Shia LaBeouf accused his ex-girlfriend FKA Twigs of “gamesmanship” in their legal battle, and he asked a judge to step in, In Touch can exclusively report.
According to court documents obtained by In Touch, Shia, 38, revealed he is in an ongoing dispute with FKA, 36, over her deposition.
FKA sued Shia in 2020 for alleged sexual battery in Los Angeles Superior Court. In her lawsuit, the singer/actress accused Shia of being abusive during their relationship that lasted from 2018 to 2019.
FKA demanded $10 million in damages. Shia denied all allegations of wrongdoing and demanded the case be thrown out.
His lawyer argued, “[FKA] attests that Shia’s alleged actions have resulted in severe emotional and mental distress affecting her ability to work as long hours and perform as often as before. However, [FKA] is working so much that she has been too busy over the past two years to even appear for her deposition.
Now, with trial looming, [FKA] seeks to depose Shia first, even though Shia noticed [FKA’s] deposition first, and [FKA’s] counsel has acknowledged the principle of deposition priority.”
Shia’s lawyer revealed FKA is refusing to be deposed until Shia completes his deposition. Shia said he has been attempting to take FKA’s deposition for more than a year.
He said he has been unable to due to her being too busy on numerous projects. Shia said FKA told his team she was available on September 27 and no other day. Shia said he told FKA he was available for his deposition on October 11.
He said FKA then did an “about-face” and asked to move her deposition from September 27 to October 15, so “she could purportedly attend Shia’s deposition on October 11.
Shia’s lawyer said, “[FKA’s] desire to attend Shia’s deposition, however, did not require him to be deposed first. Thus, Shia agreed to depose [FKA] on her new requested date of October 15, 2024, and Shia made himself available for deposition on October 17, 2024.”
The actor’s lawyer accused FKA of then retaliating and refusing to appear at her deposition on her new requested date. His lawyer added, “What’s more, [FKA] has now claimed—with no explanation whatsoever—that she had ‘priority’ and that she is not available for her deposition until December of 2024. Never mind that she had been available on September 27 and then October 15.”
His lawyer said, “[FKA’s] supposed unavailability is a matter of strategy, not schedule. She wants to see what Shia remembers so she can try and avoid her misstatements. That is not a basis for upsetting the parties’ agreed upon deposition schedule, nor for deviating from Shia’s deposition priority.”
FKA has yet to respond. A judge has yet to rule on the matter.
In court documents, FKA described Shia as being emotionally manipulative and controlling. She said Shia had her cut off family and friends.
FKA said that Shia once slammed her against a car and attempted to strangle her.
FKA said Shia also knowingly exposed her to an STD. The singer said she confronted Shia about the STD, and he did not deny that he had it.
The parties have been going back and forth for months about discovery in place.
Shia accused FKA of refusing to turn over certain information about her finances. His lawyer said, “incredibly, that she has suffered $10 million in damages, including lost wages, lost professional opportunities and emotional distress.”
Shia’s attorney added, “In particular, [FKA] alleges that the release of her album was delayed due to mental anguish, and as a result she lost over $1 million not finishing her album prior to touring. She has not provided support for this alleged delay, the reasons behind it, or that she would have earned an extra $1 million for the album’s earlier release. [FKA] also claims she lost contracts because of Shia, contributing to lost professional opportunities. On her alleged severe emotional distress, [FKA’s] medical bills total $4,100 to a therapist.”
He added, “Contrary to what [FKA] alleges, she appears to have increased her profile in the years after her relationship with Shia and her career appears to be thriving.”
Shia’s lawyer argued, “She continues to be professionally active, regularly releasing music videos and new music in 2020-2021, including a song with the Weeknd, one of the world’s best-selling artists. In January 2022, she released a 17-song mixtape. In addition to music, she is starring in the film The Crow. She also has a modeling campaign for Calvin Klein and appeared in numerous magazines including Elle and British Vogue.”
In addition, Shia’s lawyer said that a $10 million judgment would be “financially ruinous” for the actor.
For her part, FKA accused Shia of failing to turn over text messages in his possession that she requested.
