Abuse claim by Prince's ex

The artist formerly known as Prince has never been far from controversy. He was one of the biggest selling pop stars of his day, making his name - then changing it to a squiggle - with his high-energy fusion of rock and funk, before disappearing into rock star seclusion.

Now he faces notoriety of a different sort after a former girlfriend made a series of allegations claiming he sexually abused her and made her call him the Messiah.

Charlene Friend alleges that the diminutive singer filmed her having sex with him without her permission and threatened violence when their relationship ended.

In court papers filed in Santa Monica, California, Miss Friend, who was 18 when she met the star, says she was repeatedly physically and mentally abused during their two-year relationship and that the experience left her suffering from depression.

In her statement she says: "Prince informed me he took sexual relations very seriously.

He believed he was the Messiah and if you had sex with him, you became one with him.

"He would have me dress in his clothing at his whim. His staff were not allowed to look at me and I was not allowed to look at them."

The case was filed after a row broke out over some gifts Prince, 44, gave to Miss Friend, now 30, which she attempted to sell.

She is taking action against him for defamation and emotional distress and could be awarded millions of dollars in compensation from the man who wrote Purple Rain, Little Red Corvette, 1999 and Sign O' The Times.

Miss Friend also alleges that Prince indulged in wild parties and made video tapes of them having sex without her knowledge.

"Prince would have bizarre sex parties where he had different theme rooms. He kept people in rooms at his homes and would have different acts in each room. He had cages, chains, whips in these rooms. Sometimes he would watch and sometimes he would participate.

"Prince would also make me watch videos of him with other women. This would make me very upset. I was also filmed having sex with Prince without my permission."

Miss Friend, who began a relationship with Prince after they met in a Hollywood bar, also accuses him of starving her and threatening violence when they broke up.

"Prince ran hot and cold, treating me nicely, then being cruel. He would kick me out of bed, ordering me to sleep elsewhere. I would want to leave but he would prevent me. He said I belonged to him. He also demanded that I be on call for him.

"Prince threatened to have me killed after we broke up, saying no one else could have me."

Miss Friend claims the experience has left her an emotional wreck: "As a result of the severe abuse, I have suffered anxiety, depression and panic attacks."

A spokesman for Prince said today the allegations were "totally false". Prince became an international star following the success of the Purple Rain album and movie in 1984. It became one of the best-selling soundtracks of all time.

In the early Nineties he changed his name to a symbol and wrote the word "slave" across his face in protest against his record company.

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