Fashion queen Dame Natalie Massenet has accused her ex-partner of being a ‘sex addict’ who lived a double life of ‘rampant’ drug use, prostitutes and multiple affairs in a devastating lawsuit.
Bombshell court papers allege the life of the British-American founder of Net-a-Porter fell apart in May after she claims Erik Torstensson confessed to being a ‘liar, drug addict, alcoholic and sex addict’.
In the civil case launched yesterday in California, the former chairman of the British Fashion Council, 60, was said to have been left ‘heartbroken’ after discovering his betrayal had spanned much of their 14-year-relationship.
She claims 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’.
The Swedish entrepreneur, 47, faces accusations he used his now-ex-partner for ‘social clout’ and she was left ‘cash-strapped with his child’.
‘As soon as he had finished spending Massenet’s money, he left,’ the papers say.
As the pair weren’t married, the 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.’
Mr Torstensson, founder of denim brand Frame, is yet to file a response to the claim lodged with the Superior Court of Los Angeles.
Trouble first arose, it is said, in 2024, when the ex-fashion journalist noticed Mr 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, Mr 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, Dame Natalie 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, Mr 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 Mr 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, Mr 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 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 Mr 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 Mr Torstensson professionally.
In return, Dame Natalie would share in the eventual returns from his business ventures.
Yet, once cash began to come in, Mr 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 Mr Torstensson ‘is completely refusing to honour’ his promises and denies owing her anything ‘despite the irrefutable evidence that he agreed to do so’.
