FKA twigs is back in court, and this time she is accusing Shia LaBeouf of trying to keep her quiet through what she says was an unlawful NDA. The singer, born Tahliah Barnett, has filed a new lawsuit that revives the bitter fight between the former couple. At the center of it is a claim that LaBeouf used a settlement agreement to pressure her after she spoke publicly, even in broad terms, about life after surviving abuse.
Barnett first sued the ‘Transformers’ actor in 2020, accusing him of what she described as relentless abuse during their relationship, which lasted from 2018 to 2019. Her allegations included sexual battery, assault, and infliction of emotional distress. That legal battle was later dropped. Barnett wanted to move on. So, what led to this new filing?
The Interview That Sparked a New Fight
In the new filing, Barnett claims LaBeouf has spent “the better part of a decade” trying to control her, and says his latest move crossed a legal line.
According to the new lawsuit, the dispute reignited after Barnett gave an interview while promoting her recent work, including her album ‘Eusexua’. At the time, she had recently resolved her earlier case against LaBeouf. When asked whether she felt safe after everything that had happened, she gave a measured but deeply telling answer: “No, I wouldn’t say I feel safe.”
She continued by explaining that her focus had shifted toward helping other survivors through groups such as Sistah Space and No More. Barnett said she wanted to support others and keep moving forward with her life. The new suit claims that this statement, which did not directly name LaBeouf, was later used by him and his attorneys to pursue what the filing describes as “exorbitant monies” for allegedly violating the NDA in their settlement.
That is where the new legal filing goes in hard. Barnett argues that LaBeouf’s arbitration complaint, reportedly filed in secret last December, was legally hollow from the start. Her team claims her comments were vague, did not identify him, and should not have triggered any penalty. The filing also argues that the NDA itself violates California’s Stand Together Against Non-Disclosure Act, known as the STAND Act. This act limits the use of confidentiality clauses in cases involving abuse, harassment, or discrimination.
Why the NDA Claim Matters
The lawsuit says the issue is bigger than one celebrity breakup gone bad. Barnett’s filing argues that the settlement was designed to silence her. To silence her not only about her own experience, but also about her ability to advocate for other survivors. That point gives the case extra weight, especially as Hollywood continues to face scrutiny over NDAs and how they can be used behind closed doors.
For Barnett, this latest move appears to be about drawing a line.
For LaBeouf, it adds to a stack of legal trouble that has been keeping his name in headlines. The ‘Transformers’ and ‘Fury’ actor is also currently facing three battery charges tied to an incident at a New Orleans bar during Mardi Gras in February.
