AceShowbiz - FKA Twigs is reigniting her legal conflict with Shia LaBeouf, alleging that the actor is unlawfully attempting to silence her through a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) included in their sexual abuse settlement. This development comes less than a year after the Grammy-winning singer and LaBeouf settled her sexual battery lawsuit, which detailed accusations of persistent abuse during their relationship in the late 2010s.

The new lawsuit, filed on March 25, reveals that the settlement contained an NDA. In December, LaBeouf initiated an arbitration case, accusing FKA Twigs of breaching the agreement by making public statements about not feeling safe and expressing a desire to support other survivors of abuse.

Represented by prominent attorney Mathew Rosengart, FKA Twigs’s lawsuit asserts that the NDA violates California law, specifically the STAND Act passed in 2019. This legislation prohibits NDAs from covering up sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination cases. Rosengart describes LaBeouf’s efforts to uphold the NDA as “frivolous” and “preposterous,” emphasizing the actor’s decade-long campaign to control FKA Twigs and intimidate survivors.

“Shia LaBeouf has tried to control FKA Twigs for the better part of a decade,” Rosengart states in the court documents. “His campaign of intimidation and abuse of the legal system denigrates not just Ms. Barnett but every other survivor of sexual abuse in this state.”

An attorney for Shia LaBeouf has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the new lawsuit.

This legal dispute follows closely on the heels of LaBeouf’s recent arrests in New Orleans for alleged violent altercations, resulting in multiple misdemeanor charges and release on bond.

The STAND Act, under which FKA Twigs’s lawsuit is filed, was enacted in the aftermath of the #MeToo movement to ensure survivors of sexual and domestic violence are not silenced by NDAs. FKA Twigs’ legal team argues that the settlement she signed with LaBeouf last year blatantly violates this law because it not only bars her from discussing her own abuse allegations but also prevents her from speaking on the topic of abuse more broadly.

Rosengart explains that the singer’s lawsuit aims to correct this injustice and protect other survivors who lack the resources to fight back against predators and abusive legal tactics. “She files this action to right a wrong, and also on behalf of other women who are victims of sexual and domestic violence who do not have the resources to speak out and defend themselves from predators,” Rosengart writes. “She seeks to ensure that survivors are not bullied or silenced like she was by agreements that violate California law.”

The controversy over the NDA enforcement began after FKA Twigs gave a statement to The Hollywood Reporter in October, when asked if she felt safe following the settlement with LaBeouf. She replied, “No, I wouldn’t say I feel safe,” and expressed her intention to support organizations that advocate for abuse survivors.

Following this seemingly innocuous statement, LaBeouf’s legal team filed a secret arbitration case in December accusing her of breaching the NDA. The arbitration, led by celebrity litigator Shawn Holley, reportedly sought substantial financial penalties from FKA Twigs for the alleged violation.

FKA Twigs then retained Mathew Rosengart, a former federal prosecutor known for his aggressive defense of high-profile clients, who contended that the arbitration had no legal basis under the STAND Act. LaBeouf’s lawyers countered by claiming the STAND Act did not apply because the original lawsuit alleged battery, not assault. Rosengart’s team called this argument “preposterous” and offensive to Californians.

After further legal exchanges and LaBeouf’s recent criminal issues in Louisiana, the actor reportedly agreed to drop the arbitration case earlier in the month. However, FKA Twigs and her attorneys maintain that a court ruling is necessary to officially declare the NDA void. This would prevent LaBeouf from using the agreement to control or intimidate her in the future.

“Ms. Barnett must be freed from the above-referenced unlawful restrictions,” Rosengart’s lawsuit declares. “This lawsuit will determine whether a celebrity abuser’s fame and money can override the important rights enacted by the legislature.”

The ongoing dispute highlights the tension between high-profile abuse survivors seeking justice and the use of NDAs to suppress allegations. FKA Twigs’ case could set a significant precedent for how such agreements are enforced in California and potentially beyond.

As this case proceeds, it underscores the broader societal and legal challenges faced by survivors of sexual abuse, especially when confronting powerful individuals with substantial resources. FKA Twigs’ determination to challenge the NDA signals a push against attempts to silence victims and a call for transparency and accountability.