Metro Boomin Not Liable in Civil Sexual Assault Trial

A court has ruled in Metro Boomin‘s favor.

On Thursday, Sept. 25, the Grammy-nominated producer (born Leland T. Wayne) was found not liable on all four causes of action in a civil sexual assault trial, per Rolling Stone.

According to the publication, the ruling was made after roughly an hour of deliberation, where a panel unanimously determined that plaintiff Vanessa LeMaistre had failed to prove that the “Like That” musician raped her in 2016 at a Southern California hotel.

“I’m grateful and thankful to God that I can finally put all of this nonsense behind me. Based off of how I treat others and represent myself, never in a million years would I have thought I could be accused of such a disgusting and heinous act,” Wayne, 32, said in a statement following the verdict.

“Today I took a victory in court but in reality there is a long list of losses I stacked up in this year long process of clearing my name and reputation. The very large amount of money and time wasted, coupled with the incalculable amount of money and opportunities that did not make it to me or my team during this time.”

He continued, “This has been a very difficult time for me and my family. From the beginning I have said these allegations were false and that I would not be a part of a shakedown. She attacked who I am as a person and how I was raised, and I could not let her get away with that. I would never do what she accused me of to anyone. I am deeply thankful to my legal team, my loved ones, the jury, and everyone who stood by me. I’m relieved that the truth came out in court.”

Per her lead lawyer, Michael J. Willemin, LeMaistre, 39, declined to comment.

“Though the legal system is often stacked against survivors, our client showed unwavering fortitude throughout this trial,” he told PEOPLE. “We are disappointed in the outcome but are proud to represent Ms. LeMaistre and believe that the verdict will ultimately be overturned on appeal.”

In October 2024, LeMaistre — a former friend of Wayne’s — sued him in Los Angeles Superior Court for allegedly sexually assaulting and raping her in a 2016 encounter, claiming it led to an aborted pregnancy.

According to the complaint, which was obtained by PEOPLE, she was seeking jury trial and damages after she claims she “blacked out” and awoke to Wayne raping her in a Beverly Hills hotel room.

In a statement at the time, Wayne’s attorney Lawrence Hinkle II told PEOPLE that “these are false accusations.”

“Mr. Wayne refused to pay her months ago, and he refuses to pay her now. Mr. Wayne will defend himself in court. He will file a claim for malicious prosecution once he prevails,” he added.

In the filing, LeMaistre claimed that she was “deeply distraught and in mourning” over the February 2016 death of her 9-month-old son Kamden when she met Wayne through mutual friends in the spring of 2016 in Las Vegas.

She claimed that Wayne invited her to the recording studios in California and she obliged as she was looking for an “escape from the pain” of her son’s death. The complaint said they “developed a friendly bond.

Allegedly in September 2016, LeMaistre stopped by his studio to watch him work, and after taking a shot of alcohol and half a bar of Xanax, she and Wayne sat on the couch and discussed their “mutual depression.” According to the complaint, she was distraught over her son’s death, and Wayne was over a breakup with his long-term girlfriend.

LeMaistre claimed she then “blacked out,” and next remembered waking up to Wayne allegedly raping her. She claimed she was “in and out of consciousness for an unknown amount of time but awoke again at some point to Wayne performing oral sex on her.”

Per the complaint, several weeks later, LeMaistre allegedly learned she was pregnant and knew Wayne to be the father, as she had not had sex with anyone else. In November 2016, she had an abortion.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.