Metro Boomin Denies Sexual Assault Allegations as Judge Weighs Mistrial Request
The sexual assault trial against super producer Metro Boomin has just begun, but the attorneys for the alleged victim have already asked for a mistrial, claiming that the defense lawyer made inappropriate claims about her sexual history during opening arguments.
According to Billboard, Vanessa LeMaistre alleges that she blacked out after mixing drugs and alcohol during a 2016 recording session in Metro Boomin’s (Leland Wayne) studio and woke to him raping her.
Metro has denied the claims, calling the case a “classic celebrity shakedown”. Metro claims that the encounter was consensual.
LeMaistre claims that the alleged encounter was not consensual and suggested that the producer even made reference to the alleged assault on a 2017 track he produced called, “Rap Saved Me,” where 21 Savage and Offset rap the lyrics, “She took a Xanny, then she fainted/ I’m from the gutter, ain’t no changing/ From the gutter, rap saved me/ She drive me crazy, have my baby.”
The reference to the track is of note, considering Metro is known for making beats, not ghostwriting lyrics for other rappers.
On Tuesday, after testimony, LeMaistre’s lawyers claimed that Metro’s lawyer’s opening statements went too far, after they reportedly noted that the two had consensual sex that night before the alleged attack.
“In all sexual violence trials, there are strict rules that limit the defense from alluding to an alleged victim’s sexual history or apparent proclivities. Typically, a defendant needs to ask permission from the judge before bringing up any sexual conduct that is not tied to the specific incident at issue in a trial,” Billboard reports.
LeMaistre’s attorneys – led by Michael Willemin argued in their complaint that there is “no possible way to undo” the damage that Metro’s opening caused, since jurors cannot act as if they didn’t hear the statement. Willemin is asking for Judge R. Gary Klausner to declare a mistrial and start the case over.
The judge is expected to address the issue before the trial resumes on Wednesday (Sept. 24).
