Shia LaBeouf denies the claims that he unleashed “relentless abuse” towards his ex-girlfriend, British music artist FKA Twigs, who filed a sexual battery lawsuit with the Los Angeles County Superior Court Friday.
In an email statement to the New York Times, Shia LeBeouf said that the “allegations are not true,” but he owed Twigs, born Tahliah Debrett Barnett, the “opportunity to air” her sentiments in public.
Twigs claimed that her year-long relationship with LaBeouf has been “the worst thing I’ve ever been through in the whole of my life.” She said the actor is dangerous and hurts women physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Another girlfriend named in the lawsuit
Twigs revealed the threats to her life while she was with the actor, including that time LaBeouf apparently drove recklessly with the intention to crash the car unless Twigs professed her love.
The singer said that her ex-boyfriend physically assaulted her more than once by choking her in the middle of the night, throwing her against the car, and screaming at her face with rage.
The 32-year-old musician also claimed that the Transformers actor knowingly gave her a sexually transmitted disease. She said that she’s coming out with her accusations to “raise awareness” about abusers.
— FKA twigs (@FKAtwigs) November 12, 2020
Aside from Twigs, Karolyn Pho was also named as the other plaintiff and described her traumatic experiences with LaBeouf. The stylist was in a relationship with the actor in 2011, according to New York Daily News. Pho said that LaBeouf head-butted and pinned her on the bed during a drunken rage.
Both women claimed that LaBeouf had rules for his girlfriends and hated it when other men look or speak with them. Twigs said that she struggled to leave the home she shared with LeBeouf because “he brought me so low.” She also hesitated to go to the police because of a “misguided” perception that it will hurt the actor’s career.
Twigs’ manager Michael Stirton said that he noticed a big change in the musician’s behavior when she started dating LaBeouf. The two met in 2018, during the filming of Honey Boy. Twigs and Stirton had been working on the album Magdalene when the abuse started.
No excuse for alcoholism, aggression
Shia LaBeouf admitted in his emailed statement that he has a history of abuse, but he doesn’t have any excuse for his alcoholism or aggression. He also said that he’s been in therapy but hasn’t been cured of his PTSD and alcoholism.
“I am committed to doing what I need to do to recover, and I will forever be sorry to the people that I may have harmed along the way.”
Image courtesy of Denis Makarenko/Shutterstock