FKA Twigs Challenges NDA in New Legal Dispute With Shia LaBeouf
FKA Twigs has filed a new lawsuit against Shia LaBeouf, arguing that a non-disclosure agreement tied to their prior legal settlement is unlawful and cannot be enforced under California law.
The complaint, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, centers on a dispute that emerged months after the two reached a settlement in 2025 resolving Barnett’s 2020 lawsuit against LaBeouf. In that earlier case, the singer, born Tahliah Barnett, accused the actor of sexual battery, assault, and emotional abuse during their relationship between 2018 and 2019. LaBeouf has previously denied many of the allegations.
According to the new filing, LaBeouf initiated a confidential arbitration proceeding in December 2025, alleging that Barnett violated the terms of their settlement by speaking publicly about her experience in an October interview with The Hollywood Reporter. In that interview, Barnett did not name LaBeouf directly but discussed her recovery process and ongoing advocacy for survivors of abuse.
Her legal team now argues that LaBeouf’s arbitration claim was an attempt to extract substantial financial penalties based on what they describe as a vague and non-specific statement. The lawsuit characterizes the demand as “exorbitant” and part of a broader pattern of control.
At the center of the dispute is the enforceability of the NDA itself. Barnett’s attorney, Mathew Rosengart, contends that the agreement violates California’s Stand Together Against Non-Disclosure Act (STAND Act), which limits the use of NDAs in cases involving sexual assault, harassment, or related misconduct.
In the filing, Rosengart argues that the agreement is invalid on multiple grounds: that Barnett’s comments did not breach any enforceable terms, that the NDA is unlawful under state law, and that LaBeouf would be unable to demonstrate damages even if a breach had occurred.
The lawsuit also raises concerns about the scope of the agreement, alleging that it includes provisions that could restrict Barnett’s ability to support organizations related to domestic violence and sexual abuse. Her legal team describes those provisions as impractical and contrary to public policy.
“This is a case about justice and law, not money,” the filing states, emphasizing that Barnett is seeking a judicial determination that the NDA is unenforceable rather than financial compensation.
The dispute intensified earlier this year after Barnett’s attorneys responded to LaBeouf’s arbitration claim, arguing that the STAND Act applied to the original case. According to the complaint, LaBeouf’s legal team disputed that interpretation, asserting that the statute did not apply to the specific claims involved.
The lawsuit further alleges that while LaBeouf was pursuing enforcement of the NDA, he publicly discussed his relationship with Barnett in a separate interview, which her legal team claims undermines his position regarding confidentiality.
Barnett ultimately filed the current lawsuit after LaBeouf agreed to withdraw his arbitration claim but did not concede that the NDA provisions were invalid. She is now seeking declaratory relief from the court to formally establish that the agreement cannot be enforced.
Laws like the STAND Act have been introduced in recent years to prevent agreements that could silence victims or restrict their ability to speak about their experiences.
LaBeouf’s representatives have not publicly responded to the lawsuit.
