Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Erin Heatherton allegedly dumped her business partner on a fashion venture to pursue a romance with an NFL player — and now the stylist is suing for $10 million over the slight.
Heatherton approached fashion stylist Clare Byrne, who’s worked for Barneys and Teen Vogue, in June 2015 to start a clothing company called RetroActive, according to the new Manhattan Supreme Court suit.
Byrne agreed to a discounted $25,000 fee for 20 days of consulting services in exchange for a 40 percent equity stake in the company, the suit says.
The stylist worked over the summer developing prototypes, organizing fittings and crafting a marketing plan.
The 28-year-old stunner, who’s also modeled for Victoria’s Secret and Chanel, “repeatedly demanded that Ms. Byrne continue working on the project to meet an aggressive timeline,” according to court papers.
But by October 2015, shortly after Heatherton had thrown the first pitch at the Mets game to promote the brand, she “abandoned the project without warning or justification,” the suit says.
They’d planned to debut RetroActive at the 2016 Super Bowl.
Instead, Heatherton, who’d once dated Leonardo DiCaprio, took up with Miami Dolphins tight end Jordan Cameron. Then Byrne learned that “Heatherton wanted to focus on a new romantic relationship and no longer wished to pursue RetroActive,” according to court papers.
The stylist is seeking $10 million in her breach-of-contract claim.
“In the alternative,” she’ll settle for $97,000 in unreimbursed expenses, the suit says.
An attorney for Heatherton declined to comment.
Byrne did not return a call.