Things are moving ahead for FKA Twigs and her sexual battery lawsuit against ex-boyfriend Shia LaBeouf, as a trial for her complaint has officially been set for April 17, 2023, Rolling Stone reports. The British singer dated Shia for just over a year after working together on their 2018 film Honey Boy, but according to Twigs’ claims, the relationship was highly volatile and led her to suffer from emotional distress. In her suit, FKA Twigs, whose real name is Tahliah Barnett, asserted she had been a victim of domestic abuse, recalling an incident where Shia allegedly strangled her before throwing her to the floor outside of a hotel they visited on Valentine’s Day.
On another occasion, Twigs said she became fearful when her ex-boyfriend removed his seatbelt and began to drive “maniacally” through the street while she sat in the passenger side, remembering how Shia threatened “to crash the car unless Tahliah professed her eternal love for him.” She further stated that the Disturbia actor became more and more controlling as the romance progressed, adding that Shia had allegedly gotten irritated if Twigs was to look at another man, including waiters. There were also rules set in place for how often she should kiss and touch him, and no clothes were allowed to be worn when the couple went to bed.
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FKA Twigs Claimed To Have Contracted An STD From Her Ex
In court documents, Twigs said she had also been infected with an STD from her relationship with Shia, which appeared to have been the final straw as she geared up to embark on a world tour soon after, which gave her all the more reason to leave the Hollywood star for good. The 34-year-old is believed to have tried to settle the personal matters with Shia outside of court, hoping that he would seek “meaningful and consistent professional help to address his issues,” but he reportedly declined the offer.
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In a statement given to the New York Times, Shia expressed,” I’m not in any position to tell anyone how my behavior made them feel. 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.”
As Twigs filed her lawsuit against her ex-boyfriend, she followed up with a direct message on her official Instagram page in late 2020, saying that she hoped other people who have suffered from abuse could feel inspired and encouraged to get out and get the help that they need.
“I never thought something like this would happen to me,” she penned to her millions of followers. “Which is why I have decided it’s important for me to talk about it and try to help people understand that when you are under the coercive control of an abuser or in an intimate partner violent relationship, leaving doesn’t feel like a safe or achievable option.”