In December 2020, FKA twigs filed a lawsuit against Shia LaBeouf alleging sexual battery, assault, and infliction of emotional distress during their relationship from 2018 to 2019. She accused him of choking her, slamming her against a car on Valentine's Day 2019, and knowingly exposing her to an STI.
The parties reached a private settlement in July 2025, and Barnett moved to dismiss the original suit. The settlement included a non-disclosure agreement restricting what she could say publicly about the allegations and, according to her new filing, even restricted how she could donate to charities related to domestic and sexual violence.
In October 2025, Barnett gave an interview to The Hollywood Reporter in which she was asked if she felt safe now that the lawsuit was behind her. She responded that she did not feel safe but felt passionate about helping survivors through organizations. In December 2025, LaBeouf's legal team filed a secret arbitration complaint, claiming her comments breached the NDA and seeking significant financial damages.
LaBeouf agreed to drop the arbitration demand in February 2026, but Barnett filed this new lawsuit on March 25, 2026, arguing the underlying NDA dispute remains unresolved and requires a judicial ruling.
- 01 The NDA in the July 2025 settlement is unlawful under California's STAND Act (Stand Together Against Non-Disclosure Act), which prohibits confidentiality clauses in settlements involving sexual assault and harassment.
- 02 LaBeouf filed a "secret arbitration complaint" in December 2025 seeking large sums of money over Barnett's interview comments — statements her attorneys describe as generic and benign, which did not even mention LaBeouf by name.
- 03 The NDA's provisions are "vastly overbroad," attempting to restrict not only discussion of the allegations but also Barnett's ability to donate to domestic violence and sexual abuse charities.
- 04 LaBeouf's legal position — that the STAND Act doesn't apply because the original suit alleged sexual "battery" rather than "assault" — is a semantic distinction that defies legal precedent and common sense.
- 05 LaBeouf's own conduct, including his recent arrests during Mardi Gras in New Orleans on multiple battery charges, undermines any claim of recoverable "damages" from Barnett's statements.
This case directly tests the reach of California's STAND Act into private settlements. If the court rules in Barnett's favor, it could significantly limit the use of NDAs to silence survivors of sexual abuse and set precedent for how confidentiality clauses are drafted in high-profile settlements across the entertainment industry. Survivors' advocates are watching closely, arguing that California's post-#MeToo laws were designed precisely to prevent the kind of secrecy Barnett is now challenging. A decision here could reshape how powerful parties use private agreements to bury abuse allegations.