FKA Twigs reaches settlement with Shia LaBeouf in sexual battery case
FKA Twigs has dropped her case and reached a private settlement with actor Shia LaBeouf, whom she accused of sexual battery nearly five years ago.
The English singer, real name Tahliah Debrett Barnett, sued her former partner LaBeouf for sexual battery, assault and infliction of emotional distress in December 2020, thus embroiling the pair in a lengthy and complex legal process.
However, according to People, Barnett sought for the case to be dismissed in the courts of California on July 18th, which was approved on July 21st. The terms of the dismissal state that the case has been dropped without prejudice, meaning that she cannot make the same allegations against LaBeouf in the future.
In a joint statement, the musician’s lawyer Bryan Freedman and the actor’s lawyer Shawn Holley said, on behalf of their clients: “Committed to forging a constructive path forward, we have agreed to settle our case out of court.”
They added: “While the details of the settlement will remain private, we wish each other personal happiness, professional success and peace in the future.”
Barnett alleged that LaBeouf subjected her to abuse throughout their relationship, after she was cast in his 2019 film Honey Boy, accusing him of physically attacking her, choking her, and knowingly giving her a sexually transmitted disease. She also claimed there was an incident where LaBeouf threatened to crash his car while she was a passenger in it, before being violent towards her once the vehicle had stopped.
LaBeouf repeatedly denied these allegations, telling The New York Times in an interview that the claims were “not true,” but “I’m not in any position to tell anyone how my behaviour made them feel,” adding: “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.”
The musician had previously told the outlet, “What I went through with Shia was the worst thing I’ve ever been through in the whole of my life.”
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
Never Miss A Scene
The Far Out Film Newsletter
All the latest film news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.