FKA Twigs has filed a lawsuit against Shia LaBeouf.
FKA Twigs
The 32-year-old musician has filed documents in Los Angeles Superior Court against the ‘Transformers’ star for alleged sexual battery, assault, and infliction of emotional distress during the course of their brief relationship in 2019.
According to the lawsuit, which was obtained by the New York Times newspaper, FKA - whose real name is Tahliah Barnett - accused Shia of driving recklessly with her in the passenger seat whilst out for a drive just after Valentine’s Day last year, and claimed he removed his seatbelt and threatened to crash the car unless she professed her love for him.
FKA also alleged Shia raged at her throughout their drive, and once woke her up from a nap and choked her. When she begged to be let out of the car, she claims Shia pulled over at a gas station, but then assaulted her and threw her against the car and forced her back in.
The lawsuit goes on to allege Shia physically, emotionally and mentally abused her many times in a relationship that lasted less than a year, and also includes allegations of Shia giving the singer a sexually transmitted disease (STD).
FKA admitted she has come forward with her allegations in order to show how abusive relationships can affect anyone.
She said in the suit: “I’d like to be able to raise awareness on the tactics that abusers use to control you and take away your agency.”
Shia has since responded to the allegations through the New York Times, and admitted he has been “abusive to myself and everyone around me for years”.
He said in a statement: “I’m not in any position to tell anyone how my behaviour made them feel. I have no excuses for my alcoholism or aggression, only rationalisations. I have been abusive to myself and everyone around me for years. I have a history of hurting the people closest to me. I’m ashamed of that history and am sorry to those I hurt. There is nothing else I can really say.”
However, the 34-year-old actor insisted that “many of these allegations are not true”, but also said he owed the women “the opportunity to air their statements publicly and accept accountability for those things I have done”.
Shia then claimed he is currently “a sober member of a 12-step program”, and receiving therapy.
He added: “I am not cured of my PTSD and alcoholism, but I am committed to doing what I need to do to recover, and I will forever be sorry to the people that I may have harmed along the way.”
FKA is suing for unspecified damages.
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