Net-a-Porter founder Dame Natalie Massenet has been accused by her ex-boyfriend of being a violent and controlling drug user.
Last month, the British-American fashion queen sued her former boyfriend Erik Torstensson, 47, claiming he was a ‘sex addict’ who lived a double life of ‘rampant’ drug use, prostitutes and multiple affairs.
She also claimed to have ‘spent more than $95 million during the course of their relationship on expensive properties, lifestyle expenses, vacations, and more based on Torstensson’s promises to repay her in kind’.
Torstensson, a Swedish entrepreneur who founded fashion brand Frame, has now filed a child custody action at the New York Supreme Court in Manhattan for their seven-year-old son, reportedly alleging Massenet was an unfit mother.
He claims Massenet, 60, ‘used drugs regularly’, ‘ingested alcoholic beverages heavily’ and used her power to ‘exert control of him’, according to a court filing reported by The New York Times.
Torstensson said his ex-partner ‘drank heavily, ‘would lash out physically’ and once overdosed on MDMA at Galstonbury festival.
He also claims he was the primary caregiver for their child, and questions Massenet’s ”capability to provide responsible care’
Bonnie Eskenazi, Torstensson’s lawyer, called Massenet’s suit ‘vengeful and obviously meritless without any regard to the harm it would cause their family’, according to NYT.
Net-a-Porter founder Dame Natalie Massenet has been accused by her ex-boyfriend of being a violent and controlling drug user
Last month, the British-American fashion queen sued her former boyfriend Erik Torstensson, 47, claiming he was a ‘sex addict’ who lived a double life of ‘rampant’ drug use, prostitutes and multiple affairs
Torstensson has now filed a child custody action at the New York Supreme Court in Manhattan for their seven-year-old son, reportedly alleging Massenet was an unfit mother
A spokesperson for Massenet’s said Torstensson’s filing was ‘an improper use’ of the court process and ‘nothing more than a vindictive smear campaign in response to Natalie’s claim against him’.
Torstensson says his romance with Massenet began on a flight to Milan when Massenet, who was still married, turned to him and said ‘kiss me’.
He says they went on to have sex in her car outside her mansion in South Kensington, west London, while her daughters sat inside the house.
Torstensson describes the publicity from their relationship as ‘an unwanted distraction’ from his work and claims he spent more than $20 million financing their lifestyle.
His claims come after he found himself facing accusations last month that he used his now-ex-partner for ‘social clout’, leaving her ‘cash-strapped with his child’.
As the pair weren’t married, Massenet’s complaint seeks damages for breach of contract, fraud and infliction of emotional distress.
Lawyers for Dame Natalie wrote: ‘While Massenet is emotionally devastated and in shock caused by Torstensson’s outrageous behaviour, this is a case of a return on investment in a man who leveraged Massenet’s capital and brand to build wealth, while she bore the majority of the costs.
‘Massenet is demanding what any investor would – a fair, equitable return on the investments she made, value she created, and costs she carried.’
Massenet’s lawsuit claims Torstensson ‘seduced’ her to gain ‘social clout’ to access A-listers such as Victoria Beckham, who he convinced to promote his denim brand, Frame
Massenet is suing for breach of contract, fraud and infliction of emotional distress (Pictured: the couple in 2019)
A screenshot taken from Torstensson’s phone reveals messages to one of his mistresses
The papers submitted also include texts allegedly sent between Torstensson and a drug dealer
The lawsuit alleges that Torstensson hired prostitutes in Los Angeles, London and New York while travelling for work
Massenet’s claim, which was lodged with the Superior Court of Los Angeles, said trouble first arose in 2024, when the ex-fashion journalist noticed Torstensson was disappearing at night and drinking heavily.
She later found a bottle of Valacyclovir, which he said was to treat hives but she learnt was to treat herpes, her case says.
Despite starting relationship counselling, Torstensson’s behaviour was said to have deteriorated, and things came to a head when he said he wanted to end their relationship.
According to the filings, Massenet discovered this May that he had been living a ‘secret life for many years’.
She allegedly found explicit messages and photographs showing her partner had ‘maintained multiple affairs with several younger women for years’.
One was said to be someone the dame knew. When confronted, Torstensson was said to have confessed he was a ‘liar, an alcoholic, a drug addict, a sex addict and that it had gone on for seven years’.
Her team also claim Torstensson hired prostitutes and used drugs including cocaine in Los Angeles, London and New York while travelling for work – with the papers including texts allegedly sent between him and a drug dealer.
One sex worker was said to have been hired days after the couple celebrated their son’s embryo being implanted with a surrogate.
On another occasion, Torstensson allegedly texted a woman he was sleeping with during a family trip, telling her he was ‘in hell’.
The papers claim the Swede targeted the entrepreneur to forge a ‘path toward power, influence and a better life’ in 2009 when he had nothing.
The case alleges Torstensson ‘seduced’ her to gain ‘social clout’ which he used to ‘rack up investment and equity positions worth hundreds of millions of dollars’.
He is also said to have used the businesswoman, who was made a Dame by the Queen in 2016, to access A-listers such as David and Victoria Beckham, who he convinced to promote Frame.
The documents claim Torstensson had encouraged Dame Natalie – who drove a Smart Car and flew in economy despite her net worth – to live more lavishly despite his own ‘pocketbooks being dry’.
‘He was set on indulgences like first class or private airfare because he openly cared about outward appearances and yearned to be viewed as powerful in society,’ the case says.
The couple were said to have agreed she would front the costs for their lives – including the purchase of properties – and invest in Torstensson professionally.
In return, Dame Natalie would share in the eventual returns from his business ventures.
Yet, once cash began to come in, Torstensson was said to have diverted it to ‘rent flashy private planes and art to impress his peers, rather than make good on his promises’.
‘Eventually, Torstensson’s lies were revealed as just that,’ the 27-page claim states.
‘All the while, Torstensson had schemed to defraud Massenet out of her hard-earned money and convince her to use her influence and finances to promote and endorse Torstensson publicly and privately under false pretences.
‘When the romantic relationship ended because of his duplicity, and as her cash ran out, he cut Massenet out of any potential earnings from her significant investment in Torstensson over the last nearly 15 years,’ it alleges.
Her lawyers say the self-made entrepreneur has ‘suffered severe emotional distress’, forced to undergo intensive therapy and had to take weeks off work.
They further claim Torstensson ‘is completely refusing to honour’ his promises and denies owing her anything ‘despite the irrefutable evidence that he agreed to do so’.
