Singer Stacie Orrico has filed a comprehensive lawsuit against her former manager Britt Ham, Universal Music Group, ForeFront Records, and others, alleging years of childhood sexual abuse and exploitation that she claims the music industry failed to prevent. The suit details a pattern of abuse beginning when Orrico was just 14 years old, alleging negligence and gender violence while seeking accountability for what she describes as “profound harm.”
Stacie Orrico, the Christian pop singer known for her early 2000s hits including “(There’s Gotta Be) More to Life” and “Stuck,” has filed a landmark lawsuit alleging childhood sexual abuse by her former manager Britt Ham. The complaint, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, names multiple defendants including Universal Music Group, ForeFront Records, and Rocketown Management LLC.
The lawsuit alleges a systematic failure to protect the young artist, who was just 12 years old when she first entered the music industry. Orrico claims the abuse began when she was 14 and continued for years, with industry figures allegedly prioritizing financial interests over her safety.
The Allegations: A Pattern of Abuse
According to the filing obtained by People, the abuse began in 2000 when Ham allegedly sexually assaulted Orrico for the first time during a business trip to Los Angeles. The complaint states that Ham “kissed her and instructed her to lie on his bed next to him” before touching her inappropriately.
The pattern continued with subsequent alleged assaults in 2001, when Orrico was 15. The lawsuit claims Ham engaged in increasingly invasive behavior, including “digitally penetrating Plaintiff’s genitals and rubbing his erect penis against Plaintiff’s body until he ejaculated.”
Industry Complicity and Failed Protections
The lawsuit alleges that multiple parties witnessed concerning behavior but failed to take adequate protective measures. One individual reportedly warned Orrico’s father about inappropriate touching between the singer and Ham at a pool, while another employee hired as Orrico’s companion was allegedly fired after raising concerns to the record label.
“The music industry failed to protect me when I was a little girl,” Orrico said in a statement. “It has taken me years to become strong enough — but I am ready to fight for every young and innocent person who has been, and continues to be, abused in the music industry and in the Church.”
Orrico’s attorneys argue that defendants “failed to take proactive steps” to protect the minor artist from her manager, despite clear warning signs and opportunities for intervention.
Career Impact and Lasting Trauma
The abuse allegations correlate with the abrupt decline of Orrico’s music career. Her last album was released in 2006, and she effectively left the music industry by 2007 when she departed from ForeFront and Virgin Records.
The filing states that Orrico suffered numerous psychological consequences from the alleged abuse, including:
- Anxiety and depression
- Panic attacks
- Embarrassment and loss of self-esteem
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Legal Claims and Seeking Justice
The lawsuit brings multiple claims against the defendants, including:
- Childhood sexual abuse
- Sexual battery
- Negligence
- Gender violence
Orrico is seeking unspecified damages and has requested a trial by jury. The suit represents her attempt to achieve accountability for what she describes as “abuse, exploitation and profound harm” suffered during her childhood career.
Mo Hamoudi, one of Orrico’s attorneys, told People: “Stacie’s case is a chilling account of a child whose love for God and whose extraordinary talent drew the attention of an industry that saw profit, not protection. Instead of safeguarding her, they allowed her to be abused while others made money, leaving her exposed to the darkest corners of their own system.”
Orrico’s Current Life and Recovery
Now 39 years old, Orrico is married with two children and has found strength through her personal relationships and therapy. She credits her husband with teaching her “to live as the courageous woman I really am” according to her profile on The Nile Project website.
The singer’s decision to come forward now reflects her journey toward healing and her desire to advocate for other abuse survivors in the entertainment industry.
Orrico’s musical legacy includes several notable achievements:
- Her 2003 hit “(There’s Gotta Be) More to Life” reached No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100
- “Stuck” appeared on the soundtrack of the 2004 Disney Channel movie “Stuck in the Suburbs”
- She received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album in 2004
The case joins a growing number of lawsuits addressing abuse in the entertainment industry, highlighting ongoing concerns about the protection of young performers.
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