Tahliah Barnett, better known as FKA Twigs, is suing her ex, Shia LaBeouf, of alleged sexual battery, alleged sexual assault, and allegedly intentionally inflicting emotion distress. According to Stereogum, she is allegedly suing LaBeouf for $10 million in damages, which allegedly include “lost wages, lost professional opportunities and emotional distress.”
LaBeouf and his team are continuing to deny her claims, even alleging that Barnett doesn’t have grounds to stand on. LaBeouf’s attorney stated, “Contrary to what [Barnett] alleges, she appears to have increased her profile in the years after her relationship with Shia and her career appears to be thriving.” He also claims that the $10 million she’s asking for would be “financially ruinous” for LaBeouf. (via Stereogum)
Barnett’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, countered LaBeouf’s lawyer in a recent statement. He says, “While my client was led to believe that LaBeouf was on a path of taking responsibility and working a program, it is clear he intends his pattern of continuing to abuse the victim. Any suggestion that FKA Twigs’ emotional distress should be discounted because of any career success is preposterous and discounts the idea that victims should have hope for the future. Logically, without the trauma that she has suffered I can only imagine the level of success she would have achieved by now.” (via Stereogum)
Barnett spoke about the alleged abuse she endured during her relationship with LaBeouf, and about the effect it had on her mental health, with British Vogue back in March. She explained that she thought the breakup would be just like any other, and that she expected that things would go back to normal. Barnett elaborates of her expectations during this time, “I’d be sad for six months to a year, and then one day I’d wake up and everything would be fine. But the fact is being abused changes the whole of your nervous system.”
Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat