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Legal showdown intensifies between FKA Twigs and Shia LaBeouf
Prelude to a heated trial
Nearly four years later, the legal tussle between musician FKA Twigs and actor Shia LaBeouf continues to escalate. This high-profile case, rooted in allegations of sexual battery, assault, and emotional distress, has recently seen a new wave of intense legal skirmishes. Over the weekend, the courtroom erupted with accusations involving missing electronic devices, busy schedules, and deposition dodging from both parties.
Accusations and missed commitments
On October 18, FKA Twigs (real name Tahliah Debrett Barnett) filed a fervent statement in court, alleging that LaBeouf had failed to meet basic discovery obligations by becoming “suddenly unavailable” for a deposition scheduled long in advance on October 11.
“LaBeouf’s responses to written discovery in this case have been egregiously evasive and nonresponsive,” the filing stated. FKA Twigs’ legal team criticized LaBeouf’s document production as consisting of a meager nine pages. The musician’s team suggests LaBeouf might be hiding something, pointing to his claims of lost or destroyed electronic devices as suspicious.
Furthermore, the Transformers star allegedly backed out of a mutually agreed deposition, adding another layer of complexity to the proceedings.
Clashing depositions
Late on the same day, LaBeouf’s attorneys retaliated, arguing that FKA Twigs has been too busy to attend her own deposition due to her heavy work schedule over the past two years. LaBeouf’s high-profile legal representative Shawn Holley, currently also handling the complex Sean “Diddy” Combs case, countered the singer’s accusations of non-cooperation.
Since the lawsuit was filed in December 2020, the case has seen multiple twists and turns. FKA Twigs claimed in her lawsuit that LaBeouf choked her while whispering, “If you don’t stop, you are going to lose me,” and later threatened to crash their car. She further alleged that LaBeouf got so deep into character for his role in The Tax Collector (check for more details here) that he drove around Los Angeles shooting stray dogs and even pulled a gun on set during production.
Allegations resurface
According to FKA Twigs, LaBeouf knowingly gave her an STD, adding to the allegations. The detailed statement paints a grim picture of their relationship, which began on the set of the critically acclaimed film Honey Boy in 2018.
When the lawsuit was initially filed, LaBeouf dismissed many of the claims but admitted to a history of abuse:
“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.”
Despite this, he “denies all allegations” in subsequent legal documents.
The drama continues
The latest filing from FKA Twigs sheds light on why this celebrity showdown has dragged on for nearly four years. The statement revealed that both parties had an agreement to be deposed within the same week, with LaBeouf going first. However, his repeated cancellations forced FKA Twigs to fly from London to Los Angeles multiple times, causing significant inconvenience.
“If no such agreement existed, LaBeouf would have been deposed years prior as he is a Los Angeles resident. It is gamesmanship to refuse to honor this agreement, delaying proceedings,” her statement insists.
LaBeouf’s team, however, denies the existence of such an agreement and criticizes FKA Twigs’ legal tactics as attempts to gain a protective order in her favor:
“Plaintiff’s desire to take Shia’s deposition first in a largely ‘he said, she said’ case is not ‘good cause’ for a protective order. He should not be prejudiced by plaintiff’s maneuvers in defending against her $10 million claim.”
Awaiting the trial date
These court filings come just days before a crucial hearing set to determine the trial date. The final showdown is due to unveil deeper layers of this complex legal dispute, as both celebrities gear up for what promises to be a riveting courtroom battle.
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