A woman from Los Angeles has initiated legal proceedings against Metro Boomin, a renowned Grammy-nominated music producer known for his collaborations with prominent figures in hip-hop and R&B. She claims that the producer raped her in 2016, resulting in a pregnancy from the assault.
The representative for Metro Boomin, whose real name is Leland Wayne, has dismissed the allegations as unfounded, labeling the lawsuit filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court as “a pure shakedown.” The producer’s attorney expressed strong opposition to the claims on Wednesday, stating that Wayne had previously rejected financial demands and affirmed his intention to contest the allegations vigorously in court.
The plaintiff, identified as Vanessa LeMaistre, who is 38 years old, asserts in her lawsuit that she developed a friendship with Wayne following the death of her 9-month-old child. According to her account, during a subsequent visit to a recording studio several months later, she lost consciousness and woke up to find Wayne assaulting her.
LeMaistre alleges that she discovered her pregnancy resulting from the incident a few weeks later. The attorney for Wayne, who is 31 years old and originally from St. Louis, swiftly refuted her claims.
“This is a pure shakedown. These are false accusations,” stated Lawrence Hinkle II in a public statement. He emphasized that Wayne is prepared to defend himself against the allegations and intends to pursue a claim for malicious prosecution after he prevails in court.
Metro Boomin is well-known for his contributions to popular music, including curating the soundtrack for “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” and co-producing most tracks on the album. His most recent album, “Heroes & Villains,” released in 2022, featured prominent artists like John Legend, The Weeknd, and Travis Scott and garnered a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album. Additionally, he has worked with major artists such as Future, Kendrick Lamar, Offset, 21 Savage, and A$AP Rocky.
LeMaistre recounts meeting Wayne at a Las Vegas party in the spring of 2016, where they connected over their shared love for music as a means of coping with difficult experiences. She states that their relationship developed over several meetings, but during a visit to his California studio in September, she was given an alcoholic drink and half a bar of Xanax.
The lawsuit claims that LeMaistre can only vaguely recall waking up in a different location to find Wayne assaulting her, and she was reportedly incapacitated and unable to give consent at the time. She describes experiencing consciousness lapses and subsequently waking to find Wayne performing oral sex on her.
After the alleged assault, she confirmed her pregnancy a few weeks later, asserting that there was no dispute regarding the baby’s paternity. Following this, she underwent an abortion. The lawsuit, which alleges sexual battery and gender violence, seeks damages that will be determined at trial.
Vanessa LeMaistre has chosen to publicly identify herself through her attorneys in the legal documents.