FKA twigs Sues Shia LaBeouf, Challenging NDA in Prior Sexual Battery Settlement as Illegal
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 01: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) FKA twigs attends the 68th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 01, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Photo Credit: Amy Sussman
Los Angeles-based singer FKA twigs, legally known as Tahliah Barnett, filed a lawsuit on March 25, 2026, against actor Shia LaBeouf in Los Angeles Superior Court, challenging the legality of a non-disclosure agreement included in their prior sexual battery settlement. The suit stems from a 2020 lawsuit where twigs accused LaBeouf of physical and emotional abuse during their 2018-2019 relationship, including choking her, slamming her against a car, and knowingly transmitting a sexually transmitted disease.
Rosengart stated in the filing: "twigs files this action to right a wrong, and also on behalf of other women who are the victims of sexual and domestic violence who do not have the resources to speak out and defend themselves from predators." He added: "In so doing, she seeks to ensure that survivors of sexual misconduct are not bullied or silenced like she was." The lawsuit emphasizes that it seeks no monetary damages, focusing instead on "justice and law, not money," and requests a judicial declaration that the NDA provisions are illegal and unenforceable.
LaBeouf's representatives responded by arguing the NDA is lawful because the STAND Act's protections apply only to "sexual assault," not "sexual battery," a distinction the complaint calls "preposterous" and legally erroneous, noting that "assault is a precondition of battery." The filing further contends that LaBeouf has discussed twigs' trauma publicly without restriction, while attempting to prohibit her from doing the same, creating an ongoing controversy.
This development revives details from the 2020 lawsuit, where twigs described a "living nightmare" marked by isolation, verbal abuse, jealousy, and physical violence, including a Valentine's Day 2019 incident where LaBeouf allegedly choked her and threatened to crash his car. A housekeeper witnessed LaBeouf lifting twigs off the ground as she tried to leave, and former partner Karolyn Pho corroborated a pattern of abuse in a supporting declaration. LaBeouf previously told The New York Times he accepted accountability for some actions but disputed others.
While FKA twigs identifies as part of the queer community and has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ artists in music, no specific LGBTQ+ organizations have issued on-the-record statements about this filing as of February 26, 2026. The case highlights broader implications for survivors, particularly in entertainment where NDAs have historically silenced victims of abuse, potentially affecting transgender people and others in LGBTQ+ communities facing similar barriers to speaking out. Advocacy groups like RAINN emphasize resources for sexual abuse survivors, noting the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
The lawsuit arrives amid twigs' ongoing career, including recent efforts to address cease-and-desist letters from another act over her name, underscoring her determination to control her narrative. Legal experts view the STAND Act challenge as a test case for how California courts interpret NDA restrictions in abuse settlements, with potential ripple effects for high-profile survivors. Neither party has commented further publicly since the filing.
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