Dame Natalie Massenet, the founder of fashion retailer Net-a-Porter, has filed a lawsuit against her former partner Erik Torstensson, accusing him of being a “sex addict” who led a double life involving drug use, prostitutes, and affairs. The legal claim, filed in the Superior Court of Los Angeles, alleges that Torstensson confessed in May to being a “liar, drug addict, alcoholic and sex addict”.
The British-American businesswoman, 60, claims that Torstensson, 47, founder of denim brand Frame, “seduced” her for “social clout” and spent more than $95 million of her money during their 14-year relationship on properties, lifestyle expenses, and vacations. She alleges he promised to repay her but then abandoned her with their child, Jet, born in 2017 via surrogate.
The lawsuit accuses Torstensson of breach of contract, fraud, and infliction of emotional distress. Dame Natalie’s lawyers state that she is “emotionally devastated” and seeks a return on her investments, describing the case as “a return on investment in a man who leveraged Massenet's capital and brand to build wealth”.
Dame Natalie claims she noticed Torstensson’s heavy drinking and late-night disappearances last year, and that relationship counselling failed. She alleges he used her for access to celebrities like David and Victoria Beckham, who later promoted Frame. The lawsuit also claims Torstensson confessed to cocaine use and multiple affairs, including texting a woman during a family trip that he was “in hell”.
Torstensson has not yet responded to the legal claim, which was first reported by the Mail. Dame Natalie, a former chair of the British Fashion Council and Damehood recipient in 2016, has two daughters from a previous marriage.
