FKA twigs has filed a civil lawsuit against actor Shia LaBeouf, alleging that he subjected her to physical and emotional abuse during their relationship. The claim was lodged at Los Angeles Superior Court and relates to the period between 2018 and 2019, when the pair were together.
In the opening section of the filing, the singer, whose legal name is Tahliah Barnett, alleges that LaBeouf engaged in a pattern of abusive behaviour towards women and left her living in fear.
According to the lawsuit, Barnett experienced repeated intimidation and humiliation throughout the relationship. She alleges that on one occasion LaBeouf forced her against a car and attempted to strangle her. The filing also claims he knowingly transmitted a sexually transmitted infection to her and concealed the condition for a significant period.
The couple met after Barnett was cast in the 2019 film Honey Boy, written by LaBeouf and based on his childhood experiences as a young actor. The film depicted his relationship with his father. Barnett had a supporting role alongside him.
Court documents state that LaBeouf initially displayed affectionate behaviour, which later gave way to what the claim describes as controlling and violent conduct. Barnett alleges that he isolated her from friends and family, demanded unwavering loyalty and reacted with extreme jealousy, including towards former partner Robert Pattinson.
The lawsuit recounts an incident during a Valentine’s Day trip in 2019, when Barnett claims she woke to find LaBeouf choking her. It further alleges that he drove recklessly and threatened to crash his vehicle unless she declared her love for him. At a petrol station stop, she attempted to leave the car but was allegedly forced back inside after being physically assaulted.
In another episode cited in the filing, a housekeeper is said to have witnessed LaBeouf physically restraining Barnett when she tried to leave the relationship. The claim also states that firearms were kept in the home and that LaBeouf sometimes slept with them, contributing to her fear.
LaBeouf responded to allegations in an email to The New York Times, acknowledging past struggles with alcoholism and aggression. He said he had been abusive towards himself and others and expressed shame over his behaviour. While disputing some of the claims made against him, he did not specify which allegations he contests. He also said he is undergoing therapy and receiving treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.
The lawsuit includes references to similar allegations from stylist Karolyn Pho, who dated LaBeouf between 2010 and 2011. Although Pho is not listed as a claimant, the filing suggests she has supported Barnett’s decision to pursue legal action.
LaBeouf first rose to prominence as a teenager on the Disney Channel series Even Stevens and later starred in major studio productions including Transformers and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. He has also faced legal difficulties in the past, including a 2017 arrest in New York on suspicion of assault.
Barnett is seeking damages to be determined at trial. According to the filing, she intends to donate a substantial portion of any compensation awarded to organisations supporting women who have experienced abuse.
The lawsuit states that the action has been brought to highlight alleged misconduct and to help prevent similar harm to others.
