Net-a-Porter founder Natalie Massenet withdraws lawsuit against ex Erik Torstensson

Natalie Massenet and Erik Torstensson have withdrawn all legal proceedings against each other, bringing a dramatic chapter in fashion’s business drama to a close. In a joint statement provided to Page Six, representatives for both parties said they are pleased that all of the unfortunate litigation between them has been withdrawn. Court records show the Los Angeles civil case has been voluntarily dismissed, and sources indicate a New York family-law proceeding tied to the same dispute has also been withdrawn, though no further details were disclosed.

The Los Angeles suit was filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court last month and touched on multiple claims, including fraud, breach of contract and emotional distress, according to court filings. Massenet, 60, had alleged that her discovery of Torstensson’s drug addiction and infidelity contributed to their split in May of this year. The case, which drew widespread media attention in the fashion industry, also named allegations that Torstensson seduced her and schemed to pursue a romantic relationship in addition to their professional partnership, using her to bolster his own career, according to documents cited in reporting around the matter. The New York Post reported that, in the filing, Massenet asserted she had poured more than $95 million into funding Torstensson’s lifestyle and ventures while he was engaging in extramarital affairs and alleged drug use. The suit also claimed that Torstensson reneged on promises to repay her. The withdrawal puts an end to a saga that had unsettled observers of fashion’s inner circle.

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Massenet, who founded Net-a-Porter in 2000, later became co-founder of Imaginary Ventures, a venture capital firm. The Post’s reporting highlights that around 2009 she met Torstensson, who was then running a marketing agency, and that by late 2010 their relationship had evolved into a romantic one in addition to their business collaboration. Torstensson later launched Frame, a denim line, in 2012. Massenet sold her majority stake in Net-a-Porter for an estimated $76 million and remained on as executive chairman. In 2011 she announced her separation from her first husband, and soon after, Massenet and Torstensson became fashion’s most photographed couple, frequently seen among designers, models and celebrities. The couple also welcomed their child via surrogate in 2017, while Massenet has two daughters from her prior marriage.

According to the LA filing, Torstensson was described as a big-spender who chartered jets and purchased art, and the suit asserted that he ended the relationship with Massenet in 2024 in a “shocking and traumatic” turn of events. The filing further claimed that Torstensson checked into a treatment center, and that Massenet discovered communications on an old phone that allegedly contained explicit texts and photographs showing multiple affairs spanning several years. While the details remain part of court records, representatives for the parties emphasized that the dispute has been resolved outside of court, and no additional comment was offered beyond the joint statement.

![Net-a-Porter founder Natalie Massenet]https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/natalie-massenet-erik-torstensson-frame-110630551.jpg

The unfolding case was widely described as one of fashion’s biggest legal feuds in years, given Massenet’s status as a pioneer of online luxury retail and her role in shaping the industry’s digital era. The couple’s public lives have long intertwined with their business ventures, including Net-a-Porter and Frame denim, and their relationship had been the subject of extensive fashion press coverage for more than a decade. Observers of the industry noted that the resolution of the dispute removes a high-profile distraction as both parties continue to focus on their respective business and personal endeavors.

Industry observers had previously noted that the relationship between Massenet and Torstensson fused two influential brands in fashion—Net-a-Porter’s online retail platform and Frame’s burgeoning denim label—creating what many described as fashion’s most prominent partnership. The absence of further litigation may allow the pair to step back from public scrutiny while the businesses they built continue to evolve. Neither Massenet nor Torstensson offered public comments beyond the joint statement, and court filings confirm the withdrawal of the California civil case along with the New York family-law action. The resolution marks an abrupt end to a contentious period that had drawn attention from both fashion media and legal observers.

![Natalie Massenet and Erik Torstensson in Chanel photo]https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/erik-torstensson-natalie-massenet-chanel-110630543.jpg

As the dust settles, the fashion industry is left with a familiar reminder of how closely business and personal lives can intertwine in the pursuit of growth and influence. The joint statement signaling the end of all litigation leaves open questions about the specifics of the withdrawal and whether any confidentiality agreements or settlements were reached. For now, Massenet and Torstensson’s dramatic public split in May, followed by a rapid withdrawal of all claims, stands as a notable footnote in the history of Net-a-Porter and the broader story of fashion’s digital transformation.