Music producer Metro Boomin is facing a lawsuit that accuses him of sexual assault which resulted in a pregnancy.
A woman named Vanessa LeMaistre filed the suit in Los Angeles County’s Superior Court on Tuesday, October 29. LeMaistre is suing Metro Boomin, 31, for battery and sexual battery.
In court documents obtained by Us Weekly, LeMaistre claimed she met Metro Boomin (real name Leland Tyler Wayne) in the spring of 2016, shortly after the death of her infant son. After “several discussions about music and life in general,” she began to feel comfortable around him and often spent time at his recording studio in California.
LeMaistre claimed that during one studio visit in September 2016, she was “given a shot of alcohol” after taking half a Xanax. After drinking the alcohol, she alleged that she lost consciousness and “woke up on a bed” with Metro Boomin “on top of her.” She further claimed that she woke up later to find Metro Boomin “performing oral sex on her.”
LeMaistre pointed out that she was not able to provide consent for the sexual acts, as she was “completely unable to move or make a sound” at the time. One week after the alleged assault, LeMaistre learned that she was pregnant.
“Given the recent loss of her son and the traumatic cause of her pregnancy, Ms. LeMaistre knew that she could not continue the pregnancy and maintain any semblance of her declining mental health,” the lawsuit states. “As a result, Ms. LeMaistre had an abortion in November 2016.”
The lawsuit also claims that LeMaistre knew the pregnancy was the result of the alleged assault as she had “not had sex with anyone else.”
Metro Boomin’s lawyer Lawrence Hinkle II shut down the allegations in a statement shared with Us.
“This is a pure shakedown. These are false accusations,” he said. “Mr. Wayne refused to pay her months ago, and he refuses to pay her now. Mr. Wayne will defend himself in court. He will file a claim for malicious prosecution once he prevails.”
LeMaistre’s attorney Michael J. Willemin reacted to the statement, telling Pitchfork, “Making defamatory remarks is not going to help Metro Boomin’s case, and we look forward to proving Ms. LeMaistre’s claims in court and ultimately before a jury.”
LeMaistre’s legal team also shared an additional statement with the outlet.
“Metro Boomin has built a successful career with lyrics and social media that are not only offensive but also explicitly outline his intentions to harm women,” the attorneys said. “These are more than mere words, and it’s time for him to be held accountable for his manipulative tactics and unacceptable behavior.”
LeMaistre’s lawsuit points to lyrics from the 2017 song “Rap Saved Me” by Metro Boomin, 21 Savage and Offset. The chorus includes the lyrics, “She took a Xanny, then she fainted / I’m from the gutter, ain’t no changing / From the gutter, rap saved me / She drive me crazy, have my baby.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).