British singer FKA Twigs and American actor Shia LaBeouf have reached a private settlement in a high-profile abuse lawsuit filed by Twigs in 2020, bringing a close to a legal battle that spanned five years.
FKA Twigs, born Tahliah Debrett Barnett, accused LaBeouf, her former partner, of physical, emotional, and psychological abuse during their relationship, which began in 2018 and ended in 2019. The pair met on the set of Honey Boy, a film in which LaBeouf starred and co-wrote.
FKA Twigs and Shia LaBeouf pictured in Paris in September 2018.
In a joint statement released Tuesday, lawyers for both parties confirmed that the matter had been resolved out of court and emphasized a mutual desire to move forward. “While the details of the settlement will remain private, we wish each other personal happiness, professional success, and peace in the future,” attorneys Bryan Freedman (for Barnett) and Shawn Holley (for LaBeouf) said.
Legal documents seen by Us Weekly show that Barnett requested the court to dismiss the case with prejudice, meaning she cannot refile it in the future. A trial, initially set for last year, was postponed and never resumed as negotiations continued behind the scenes.
In her original filing, Barnett described incidents of “relentless abuse,” including being strangled, thrown against a car, and subjected to intense jealousy and control. She later revealed in a 2021 interview with Louis Theroux that the experience left her with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and long-term emotional trauma.
LaBeouf has denied many of the allegations but publicly acknowledged his history of abusive behavior. “I have a history of hurting the people closest to me. I’m ashamed of that history and am sorry to those I hurt,” he said in a previous statement.
FKA Twigs, who released her latest album Eusexua earlier this year, is celebrated for her artistic innovation and has received multiple honors, including Brit Award nominations. LaBeouf, known for his roles in Transformers and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, recently appeared in the 2025 crime drama Henry Johnson.
The settlement marks a significant resolution in a case that sparked wider conversations about abuse, accountability, and healing in high-profile relationships.
Written By Rodney Mbua
