Shia LaBeouf (Transformers, Even Stevens) is facing a lawsuit from ex-girlfriend and singer-songwriter FKA Twigs, over allegations of sexual battery and what she is calling “relentless abuse,” reported The New York Times on December 11.
FKA Twigs, born Tahliah Barnett, claims that while in a relationship with LaBeouf, she was the victim of sexual battery, assault, and emotional distress. “This action has been brought not for personal gain, but to set the record straight, and to help ensure that no more women must undergo the abuse that Shia LaBeouf has inflicted on his prior romantic partners,” she says in her statement, uploaded on Deadline website.
In her statement, she also claims that the actor knowingly gave Barnett a sexually transmitted disease. “He uses them. He abuses them, both physically and mentally. He is dangerous,” she says.
FKA Twigs is seeking a jury trial and if successful, she says she will “donate a significant portion of any monies received in this action to charities dedicated to assisting victims of domestic violence.”
In her statement, FKA Twigs includes specific instances of the alleged abuse. One such incident mentioned is after Valentine’s Day 2019 when the couple were driving in Los Angeles. LaBeouf allegedly removed his seatbelt and threatened to crash the car unless the singer said she loved him, she says in her statement. He has also been accused of choking the singer on one occasion in the suit.
Another ex-girlfriend, Karolyn Pho, is also named as having been allegedly abused by the actor.
Responding to the allegations, LaBeouf told The New York Times, “I have no excuses for my alcoholism or aggression, only rationalizations. 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.”
FKA Twigs has also tweeted to say that she came forward and shared her experience to offer solidarity to others who may be in an abusive relationship. She said that for those worried that someone they care about is in an abusive relationship, “it can be confusing and hard to know what to do”.
it may be surprising to you to learn that i was in an emotionally and physically abusive relationship. it was hard for me to process too, during and after i never thought something like this would happen to me.
— FKA twigs (@FKAtwigs) December 11, 2020
She also urged people to either donate to charities that help survivors of abuse or to reach out to these organisations for support.
Following the allegations by FKA Twigs, singer Sia also took to Twitter and claimed that she suffered emotional abuse while in a relationship with LaBeouf.
Calling him “a pathological liar”, Sia has alleged that LaBeouf “conned” her into “an adulterous relationship claiming to be single”.
I too have been hurt emotionally by Shia, a pathological liar, who conned me into an adulterous relationship claiming to be single. I believe he’s very sick and have compassion for him AND his victims. Just know, if you love yourself- stay safe, stay away. https://t.co/2NNEj9w8b1
— sia (@Sia) December 13, 2020
In a follow-up tweet, she added, “Also I love you FKA twigs. This is very courageous and I’m very proud of you.”
