DJ and music producer Diplo, whose real name is Thomas Wesley Pentz, is facing a new lawsuit accusing him of distributing revenge porn. The lawsuit, filed by an anonymous Jane Doe in California, alleges that Diplo shared sexually explicit videos and images of her without her consent. The plaintiff claims that their sexual relationship spanned from 2016 to 2023, during which she explicitly told Diplo not to record or distribute any intimate content without her permission.
According to the lawsuit, Jane Doe was contacted in November 2023 by a third party who claimed to have received explicit images and videos of her and Diplo engaging in sexual activities. The materials were allegedly shared via Snapchat in October 2018. The plaintiff asserts that she never consented to the recording or distribution of these intimate moments and that Diplo’s actions have caused her significant emotional and physical distress.
The lawsuit seeks to hold Diplo accountable for violating both federal and California state laws against the non-consensual distribution of intimate images. The federal law, part of the Violence Against Women Act reauthorized in 2022, specifically bans the disclosure of intimate images without the depicted person’s consent. Jane Doe is seeking up to $150,000 in damages.
This is not the first time Diplo has faced such allegations. In 2020, a woman named Shelly Auguste accused him of sexual assault and distributing revenge porn. Diplo denied these claims, countering that Auguste had been stalking and harassing him. An arbitrator later awarded Diplo $1.2 million, finding that Auguste had violated a mutual restraining order by discussing the case publicly. Auguste still has an active lawsuit against Diplo, with a civil trial scheduled for January 2025.
In another incident, an anonymous woman sued Diplo in 2021, claiming he forced her to perform oral sex during an after-party in Las Vegas in 2019. However, she dropped the case a week later without a settlement, expressing regret for filing the lawsuit.
Diplo’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, has strongly denied the new allegations, labeling them as part of a pattern of baseless claims aimed at extorting money from the DJ. “In every case where there has been an allegation of improper conduct made against Wes, the result has been either an immediate dismissal of a bogus lawsuit coupled with an apology, a court-ordered award for Wes in excess of $1.2 million, or the slow demise of an obvious shakedown attempt that has gone absolutely nowhere,” Freedman said. “This suit seems to be just more of the same, which is why we have no reason to believe that this will end any differently than all the others.”
Jane Doe’s attorneys argue that Diplo’s actions represent a severe abuse of power and a blatant disregard for human dignity. “Tragically, this is not the first time the defendant has shamed and violated a woman by disseminating intimate images without her consent,” said Helene Weiss, one of Doe’s attorneys. “Diplo’s alleged illicit pattern of behavior illustrates the harm he’s caused Jane Doe, and other young women just like her.”
The New York Police Department has confirmed that a criminal complaint for unlawful dissemination is on file against Thomas Pentz, and the case is currently under investigation. However, the NYPD has not commented on whether an arrest warrant has been issued.
Diplo, known for his collaborations with major artists like Justin Bieber, Usher, and Beyoncé, first gained widespread recognition for producing the track “Paper Planes” by M.I.A. He has faced multiple allegations of misconduct over the years, including claims of sexual assault and knowingly infecting a woman with chlamydia. In 2020, rapper Azealia Banks accused Diplo of grooming her and having sex with her when she was 17 and he was in his 30s.
Despite these allegations, Diplo has continued to maintain his innocence, often framing the accusations as part of a smear campaign orchestrated by individuals seeking financial gain. His legal team has consistently fought back against these claims, achieving some legal victories along the way.
As the new lawsuit unfolds, it remains to be seen how the courts will rule on the latest allegations against Diplo. Jane Doe’s case adds to the growing list of legal challenges the DJ faces, each contributing to a complex and controversial public image.
Source: Billboard, Vanity Fair, Page Six, The Independent, Pitchfork
