Guy Suing Hospital For Throwing Him In A Straight Jacket After Saying He Was In The Four Tops, Which He Is

The lead singer of the legendary Motown group the Four Tops is suing a Detroit-area hospital for allegedly throwing him in a straitjacket and ordering a psychological exam… after he told them he was the lead singer of the Four Tops.

The Rock And Roll Of Famers have been churning out hits like "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" and "Reach Out I'll Be There" since 1953, with one member — Duke Fakir — has been in the lineup since its inception.

Of course, there's been some turnover over their 71-year career (what a run; that's incredible), and that's why Alexander Morris joined the Four Tops as their newest member in 2019.

According to WWMT, 53-year-old Morris visited Ascension Macomb Oakland Hospital in Warren, Michigan in April 2023 with chest pain. However, during that visit, he told the staff that he was the lead singer of the Four Tops.

However, he alleges that the staff didn't believe him and eventually assumed he was mentally ill. According to NBC News, Morris said that the staff used a straitjacket to restrain him and ordered a psychological exam. Eventually, a nurse believed him and canceled the exam.

Then, Morris claimed that the hospital offered him a $25 gift card to Meijer as an olive branch.

Wow. Wow. Wow.

What a story, and if that's all true — I mean, Morris was telling the truth about being in the Four Tops, wasn't he? — it's crazy enough to be the plot of an episode of The Simpsons, which it kind of was ("Stark Raving Dad," Season 3, Episode 1' don't try to find it on Disney+ because it's not there because Michael Jackson is in it).

Alexander Morris (second from left) of legendary Motown group the Four Tops is suing a Detroit area hospital for allegedly restraining him after he told them he was in the Four Tops. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

The Four Tops Lead Singer's Lawsuit Alleges Racial Discrimination

Morris is now filing a suit alleging racial discrimination and other misconduct.

You can sue for anything, and while, in this humble writer/amateur archaeologist's opinion, it sounds like there was some "other misconduct." I'm not so sure about the racial discrimination part.

I find it a little hard to believe that hospital staff didn't buy what Morris was telling them because he's black, but I do believe that some would have a hard time believing that a 53-year-old guy would be a member of a Motown group in its eighth decade of doing business.

I mean, if I went to the hospital and told the staff I was in Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone, they wouldn't believe me. 

"They'd be like no you're not," and I'd be like, "I swear, I am," and they'd be like, "No way, dude," and then I'd say, "I'm telling you; we just got off of one of those oldies cruises with ? And The Mysterians and whichever Monkee is still alive."

They wouldn't believe me because I'm 28 years old (and very handsome), and Herman's Hermits were on oldies stations by the time I was born.

But it would be possible for me to be in Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone. They played at the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival about a month ago, so they're still kicking ass and taking names.

Anyway, it's a wild story, and if Morris' story is accurate — I mean, he told the truth about being in the Four Tops — it's a shame he had to go through that.

But I can understand how it happens.