Natalie Massenet and Erik Torstensson — the picturesque power couple that made all the fashionable parties before their romance blew up — are now powering down their messy legal battle.
A joint statement obtained from both sides on Thursday said: “The parties are pleased that all of the unfortunate litigation between them has been withdrawn.”
That marks the end of an intense volley of lawsuits that hurled plenty of mud and pulled the curtain back on how love and business mixed very uneasily during the couple’s 14-year relationship.
It started in August, when Massenet sued Torstensson in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging that he “confessed to her that he was a ‘liar, an alcoholic, a drug addict, a sex addict and that it had gone on for seven years.’” Those claims were backed up by texts and images he allegedly traded with prostitutes and drug dealers.
The suit claimed she spent $95 million on “expensive properties, lifestyle expenses, vacations, and more based on Torstensson’s promises to repay her in kind.”
For instance, Massenet bought a seven-bedroom, $15.5 million East Hampton home in 2017 that the suit alleged “would go on to be a favorite of Torstensson’s and he would frequently use it to entertain friends and business contacts, and develop his businesses and investments.”
“Massenet has been left not only heartbroken, but also cash strapped with his child following the very expensive life that he manipulated her into paying for,” the suit alleged.
Torstensson has a $100 million stake in the Frame marketing business as well as “substantial positions” in Kim Kardashian’s Skims, Good American, Safely and Brady, according to the suit.
This month, Torstensson shot back in New York Supreme Court, suing for custody of their 7-year-old son and painting Massenet in an unflattering light.
Torstensson alleged Massenet “loved the limelight” and sought to “exert control of him.” The case also claimed she “used drugs regularly,” “ingested alcoholic beverages heavily” and at times “turned violent” with him.
He also claimed that she was the one to initiate their romance while she was still married.
The details of the legal détente were not revealed. The settlement was first reported by The New York Post.