Metro Boomin, found not liable in rape lawsuit, eager to leave ‘this nonsense behind’

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After almost a year of legal battles, a federal jury decided on Thursday that hip-hop producer Metro Boomin is not responsible for the sexual assault allegations made against him. He expressed significant relief following the verdict.

After the verdict, the Grammy-nominated artist behind “Like That” released a statement on Instagram saying he was relieved to be done with the whole situation and expressed his gratitude to God.

After a short trial starting Tuesday, the jury found in favor of the artist, 32-year-old Leland Tyler Wayne. He was found not liable on all four claims made by Vanessa LeMaistre, who initially filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles in October 2024.

In her original lawsuit, LeMaistre stated that she and Wayne connected in the spring of 2016 while both were grieving – Wayne had recently ended a long-term relationship, and LeMaistre had lost her 9-month-old son to a rare, fatal illness, according to court filings. LeMaistre claims the assault happened that September after Wayne invited her to his recording studio to observe him working.

Music

Metro Boomin’s lawyer is disputing recent accusations of rape and sexual assault made against the producer. These claims arose from a lawsuit that was filed this week.

LeMaistre stated the incident was the second most traumatic experience of her life, after the loss of her child. She further alleged that Wayne fathered a child with her through rape, and that she later had an abortion.

Last October, the producer’s lawyers strongly refuted the claims and called the lawsuit an attempt to extort money. Lawrence C. Hinkle II, the attorney, reiterated that position on Thursday following the court’s decision.

Hinkle expressed deep gratitude for the jury’s thorough review of the facts and their just decision. He stated that the claims against Mr. Wayne were without merit and entirely untrue. Mr. Wayne has faced significant and harmful accusations, and the verdict today proves he was telling the truth all along – the plaintiff’s case against him was fabricated.

Following the verdict on Thursday, attorney Michael J. Willemin, representing LeMaistre, stated that while the legal system can be challenging for survivors, his client demonstrated remarkable strength during the trial.

Entertainment & Arts

Emani Ellis is suing Cardi B for $24 million, claiming Cardi B physically attacked her and caused emotional distress during an incident near a doctor’s office.

Willemin stated they were unhappy with the result, but remain confident in their representation of Ms. LeMaistre and expect the decision to be reversed on appeal.

Despite winning the case – which had moved from Los Angeles County court to federal court in December – Metro Boomin stated it still came with significant costs. He expressed regret over the time and money “wasted” on the legal battle, and noted that he and his team lost out on a substantial amount of money and potential opportunities while the case was ongoing.

The artist, originally from Missouri, also discussed how the case affected his family, stating that the pain they’ve experienced is unforgivable. He explained that he took legal guardianship of his younger siblings and worries about them seeing details of the case online.

Awards

The musician, known for both writing songs and producing music, contributed to the music of ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ before becoming the soundtrack’s producer. He also made a voice appearance in the film as the character Metro Spider.

Honestly, as a film buff, I was pretty frustrated with both the person suing *and* their legal team. It seemed clear from the start that the case didn’t have a chance, and they knowingly pursued it anyway. It just felt…off. I was much more appreciative of my own lawyers, who I felt were really on solid ground.

Metro Boomin became a well-known music producer in the mid-2010s, initially working with popular rappers like Young Thug, Future, and Nicki Minaj. He’s since collaborated with many other major artists, including Drake, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, SZA, and Lil Wayne. Recently, he produced tracks for Young Thug’s new album, “UY Scuti,” which is Thug’s first release since being released from jail in Georgia last October.

Now that the legal issues are settled, Metro Boomin ended his statement by sending his best wishes to everyone affected, including both the true victims and those who were wrongly or unfairly accused.

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2025-09-26 22:31