Los Angeles — A California woman has sued hip-hop producer Leland “Metro Boomin” Wayne, alleging that he raped her in 2016 while she was unconscious and inspired contentious lyrics about the incident. The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by Vanessa LeMaistre, 38, who contends that she was assaulted after becoming acquainted with Wayne during a period of vulnerability following the death of her infant.
According to the legal filings, LeMaistre met Wayne at a party in Las Vegas in spring 2016. Their friendship deepened as she confided in him about her grief from her 9-month-old son’s death in February of that year. In September 2016, Wayne invited her to his recording studio in California, where the alleged assault occurred while LeMaistre was medicating her anxiety with half a Xanax and alcohol provided at the studio.
LeMaistre claims she regained consciousness to find Wayne sexually assaulting her, in a state where she was unable to move or cry out, slipping in and out of consciousness. After waking up in a hotel room, she was eventually driven back to her car at the studio. Post the traumatic experience, LeMaistre learned she was pregnant as a result of the assault and chose to terminate the pregnancy related to the trauma and her ongoing emotional distress.
Wayne, who resides in Georgia, has denied the allegations. His attorney, Lawrence Hinkle II, has dismissed the accusations as a baseless attempt to extort money from the producer. Hinkle stated that Wayne would seek legal recourse for malicious prosecution after clearing his name in the ongoing legal battle.
In response, LeMaistre’s legal team, consisting of attorneys Michael J. Willemin, Monica Hincken, Omar H. Bengali, and Robert J. Girard II, reiterated their commitment to fighting for justice in court, suggesting that derogatory remarks from the defense would not undermine their case. They aim to substantiate LeMaistre’s claims before a jury.
Adding to the controversy, the lawsuit also points to a song released by Wayne titled “Rap Saved Me,” performed by artists 21 Savage and Offset in the following year after the alleged assault. The lyrics, “She took a Xanny, then she fainted / I’m from the gutter, ain’t no changing” are cited in the lawsuit as a tacit reference to the assault. Further, LeMaistre’s attorneys have highlighted several deleted tweets and social media posts by Wayne as evidence of inappropriate behavior and intentions towards women.
Wayne’s career as a Grammy-nominated producer who has collaborated with top artists in the industry now faces substantial scrutiny amidst these serious allegations. The case brings to light crucial issues around celebrity behavior, victim rights, and the power dynamics at play within the entertainment industry.
As this legal drama unfolds, it highlights the stark and often disturbing intersections between personal trauma and public personas in the limelight of popular culture. The outcomes of this lawsuit may set meaningful precedents for how such cases are handled in the future.
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