British musician Tahliah Debrett Barnett, who goes by the stage name FKA Twigs, is suing her ex-boyfriend Shia LaBeouf for sexual assault and battery in the course of what she alleges was an abusive relationship. LaBeouf began his career as a child actor on the Disney Channel before going on to star in Michael Bay's Transformers films and, more recently, the semi-autobiographical Honey Boy which LaBeouf wrote about his own troubled relationship with his father. Barnett is best known for her avant-garde style. Her most recent studio album Magdalene received widespread critical acclaim. Barnett and LaBeouf met on the set of Honey Boy and began a relationship shortly afterward.
LaBeouf also has a history of altercations and arrests, and has earned a reputation for inappropriate behavior. While starring in David Ayer's WWII film Fury, LaBeouf chose not to bathe for months, had a tooth pulled, and cut his own face with a knife during filming. In 2015, LaBeouf was recorded after an argument with then-girlfriend Mia Goth saying he "would've killed her." In 2017, he was arrested for public drunkenness in Savannah, Georgia. Most recently the actor was charged with battery and petty theft concerning an altercation in June.
Barnett spoke to The New York Times about the suit she filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court that centers on an incident from February 2019 in which LaBeouf threatened to crash the car they were driving and physically assaulted Barnett. Another of LaBeouf's ex-girlfriends, stylist Karolyn Pho, corroborated Barnett's accusations of abusive behavior. LaBeouf allegedly created stringent guidelines about interacting with male waiters, expressing constant physical affection, and more, which he enforced with constant physical and emotional abuse. Barnett felt isolated after being asked to move to Los Angeles, away from her social and professional circle in London, and characterized her experience with LaBeouf as "the worst thing I’ve ever been through in the whole of my life." LaBeouf has offered no direct comment, but did address his pattern of behavior in general. Read his quote below:
“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.”
According to Barnett, extricating herself from the relationship was difficult due to constant abuse and the distance between her and the majority of her support network. As it stands, all that is contained in the lawsuit is just alleged, and no details have been released regarding the next steps. Regardless, Barnett said she hoped that coming forward would send a message to other women who have been or are currently in abusive relationships, giving them the courage to do the same.
Similarly, Johnny Depp has made headlines in recent years for allegations of abuse from former girlfriend, Amber Heard. He recently lost a lawsuit in the UK against British tabloid The Sun, after the newspaper referred to him as a wife-beater. Since then, Depp has suffered serious repercussions professionally, being dropped from Fantastic Beasts 3 and upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean films, with one studio head calling him "radioactive." It remains to be seen where Barnett's lawsuit will go, but a string of warranted charges and inexcusable behavior may adversely affect Shia LaBeouf's star power regardless.
Source: New York Times