Christian singer Stacie Orrico has filed a civil lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging she was sexually abused as a minor by her former manager, Britt Ham.
Editor’s note: This article refers to reports of alleged sexual assault that some readers might find triggering and/or disturbing.
Orrico alleges the abuse occurred between 2000-2003, when she was 14-17 years old, during industry-required travel to California to promote her music.
In addition to Ham, the lawsuit also names Universal Music Group and related Christian music entities as defendants, alleging executives and companies knew or should have known about Ham’s inappropriate behavior but failed to intervene, report the abuse, or protect Orrico. The complaint alleges the companies prioritized financial and reputational interests, allowed Ham continued unsupervised access, and ignored the abuse to preserve Orrico’s image as a wholesome Christian artist.
Orrico released two successful albums before stepping away from the spotlight in 2004. Her self-titled second album landed her three Gospel Music Association (GMA) Dove Awards, which included Female Vocalist of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year.
Orrico returned to music with her late 2006 release of “Beautiful Awakening.” On Nov. 21, 2025, Orrico released the single “Blessed” with Rachael Lampa.
“The music industry failed to protect me when I was a little girl,” Orrico said in a statement released by her lawyers. “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.”
The lawsuit reads:
Stacie sang songs of worship, lightness, hope, and joy. Yet her life no longer reflected a sheltered, morally centered upbringing. Her Christian record label and Christian tour company demanded that she abandon school and work 12-to-16-hour days. Worse, the Christian music industry failed to implement safeguards to protect her from sexual abuse while she traveled specifically to California, to promote their mutual interests. The Christian music industry disregarded signs of abuse and then abandoned her when the abuse surfaced. After years of therapy and personal struggle, and an attempt to reconcile her religious upbringing and the hell she was put through at the hands of her abusers, Plaintiff now brings this action to seek accountability for the abuse, exploitation, and profound harm she suffered. Although Plaintiff’s childhood cannot be restored and the trauma she endured cannot be erased Plaintiff seeks to hold Defendants’ responsible for the lasting physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual injuries they caused.
Orrico claims that in October 2000, when she was 14, Ham sexually abused her during a meeting the two had in his hotel room during a trip to promote her first album, “Genuine,” in Los Angeles. Orrico’s mother accompanied her on the trip but was not at the meeting.
In the complaint, Orrico alleges that Ham kissed her and “instructed her to lie on his bed next to him.” Ham then continued to kiss and touch Orrico “over her clothes and between her legs.” Ham told the 14-year-old Orrico that his actions were “not a sin because he loved her.”
Ham’s actions made Orrico feel “confused” and “ashamed” the complaint explains, but it made the young singer grow “increasingly close to her abuser who impressed the importance of secrecy and the need to act Christian and wholesome in public.”
In July 2001, Orrico claims that while she and Ham were in Los Angeles for rehearsals, Ham sexually abused her again. “While there, Ham directed fifteen-year-old Stacie to come to his hotel room at the Sofitel Hotel, where he sexually abused [Orrico] by kissing her, touching her genitals, and rubbing his erect penis against her body until he ejaculated,” the complaint reads.
