FKA twigs Files New Lawsuit Against Ex-Boyfriend Shia LaBeouf as She Claims NDA Is Illegal
FKA twigs Files New Lawsuit Against Ex-Boyfriend Shia LaBeouf as She Claims NDA Is Illegal
Elizabeth RosnerWed, March 25, 2026 at 10:40 PM UTC
0
FKA twigs; Shia LaBeoufCredit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic;Dave Benett/WireImage -
FKA twigs claims Shia LaBeouf's NDA violates California law which is designed to protect survivors of sexual misconduct
The lawsuit stems from a 2020 case where she accused LaBeouf of sexual battery and emotional distress
She seeks to invalidate the NDA under California’s STAND Act and protect others from similar restrictions
FKA twigs has filed a new lawsuit against her ex- boyfriend Shia LaBeouf, alleging he is trying to enforce an "unlawful" nondisclosure agreement (NDA) to silence her.
In a complaint filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court and obtained by PEOPLE, the 38-year-old — whose legal name is Tahliah Barnett — is seeking a court order blocking LaBeouf, 39, from enforcing portions of the agreement she says violate California law.
“This is a case about justice and law, not money,” her attorney Mathew Rosengart wrote in the filing.
The British singer-songwriter filed the lawsuit “to right a wrong,” Rosengart added, saying she is also acting on behalf of other women “who do not have the resources to speak out and defend themselves from predators.”
“In so doing, she seeks to ensure that survivors of sexual misconduct are not bullied or silenced like she was,” he continued in the complaint.
The filing stems from a prior lawsuit Barnett brought in 2020, accusing LaBeouf of sexual battery, assault and infliction of emotional distress. That case was settled in 2025.
According to the new complaint, LaBeouf later claimed she breached their agreement by violating its nondisclosure provisions following a 2025 interview.
The filing points to an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, in which FKA twigs said she did not feel “safe” and spoke about supporting other survivors — remarks she says were later used against her.
LaBeouf’s position is sharply disputed in the new filing.
Advertisement
FKA twigs in New York City in May 2025Credit: Taylor Hill/Getty
“LaBeouf’s preposterous argument should offend every citizen of California,” the complaint reads, calling his legal position “nonsensical” and arguing it defies both “common sense” and state law.
According to the complaint, LaBeouf argued that the protections of California’s Stand Together Against Non-Disclosure Act apply only to claims of “sexual assault” — and not “sexual battery,” a distinction Barnett’s attorneys say is legally incorrect. The complaint says, "in matters of both common sense and law, the STAND Act covers both."
Her legal team argues that California law protects survivors from being silenced and allows them to speak about claims related to sexual misconduct. “[A] provision within a settlement agreement that prevents or restricts the disclosure of factual information… is prohibited.”
The complaint also notes that LaBeouf agreed to drop the arbitration demand in February.
The actor is also facing other legal issues from earlier this year. He was arrested and charged with two counts of misdemeanor battery following an alleged altercation during Mardi Gras in New Orleans. In a February hearing, LaBeouf was ordered to enroll in substance abuse treatment, undergo drug testing and post a $100,000 bond as conditions of his release.
FKA twigs argues the NDA is unenforceable under California’s Stand Together Against Non-Disclosure Act, which limits confidentiality provisions in cases involving sexual misconduct, and says the agreement goes further than a typical clause by restricting not only what she can say about her own experience but also her ability to speak about sexual abuse more broadly.
She is asking the court to declare those provisions invalid and prevent LaBeouf from attempting to enforce them, and is not seeking damages.
PEOPLE has reached out to attorneys for both parties for comment.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
