FKA Twigs Drops $10 Million Abuse Lawsuit Against Shia LaBeouf

Renowned British singer-songwriter FKA Twigs and actor Shia LaBeouf have concluded her notable abuse lawsuit, effectively ending nearly five years of legal proceedings.

This case originated in December 2020, when FKA Twigs (born Tahliah Debrett Barnett) initiated a $10 million lawsuit in Los Angeles. She accused LaBeouf, her former partner, of “relentless” physical, emotional, and mental abuse throughout their nine-month relationship, which began after they met on the set of Honey Boy in 2018.

Within her legal documents, Barnett recounted incidents of being awoken and “strangled,” being thrown against a car, and experiencing verbal harassment as well as control over her social interactions.

In July 2025, Barnett requested the court to dismiss all claims against LaBeouf “with prejudice,” meaning she cannot refile them in the future. A trial had initially been scheduled for 2024, but delays had impeded the case.

Both their attorneys, Bryan Freedman representing Barnett and Shawn Holley for LaBeouf, issued a joint statement affirming that the matter had been resolved privately:

“In our commitment to pursuing a constructive path forward, we have agreed to settle our case outside of court. While the specifics of the settlement will remain confidential, we wish each other personal happiness, professional success, and peace in the future.”

FKA Twigs’ lawsuit, along with interviews at the time, alleged not only physical violence but also that LaBeouf knowingly transmitted a sexually transmitted infection to her and subjected her to psychological manipulation. In The New York Times, she discussed the broader context, stating:

“I aim to raise awareness about the tactics abusers use to control you and strip away your agency.”

“I aim to raise awareness.” (Photo by Shannon Finney/Getty Images for RIAA)

LaBeouf denied many of the allegations in court but publicly recognized his history of abusive behavior and addiction issues. In an earlier statement to The New York Times, he expressed:

“I have been abusive to myself and everyone around me for years. I have a history of hurting those closest to me. I’m ashamed of that history and apologize to those I hurt. There is nothing more I can say.”

In another statement, LaBeouf maintained that many of the allegations were “not true” but acknowledged that he owed Barnett and others “the opportunity to voice their statements publicly and accept accountability for the things I have done.”

“I have been abusive to myself and everyone around me for years.” (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)

FKA Twigs reflected on the emotional aftermath in a 2021 interview with Louis Theroux on BBC, saying, “I was left with PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder] from that, which is something we don’t often discuss as a society.”

The specifics of the settlement remain confidential, as stated by both parties' legal representatives. According to court records, FKA Twigs’ decision to dismiss the case “with prejudice” signifies that this legal chapter is now conclusively closed.

Since the relationship and lawsuit, FKA Twigs has continued to advance her music career, releasing her critically acclaimed album Eusexua and earning Brit Award nominations. LaBeouf remains active in Hollywood, most recently appearing in the film Henry Johnson.

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