Diplo has been accused of distributing revenge porn multiple times since 2020, according to a police report filed in Los Angeles.
The DJ, real name Thomas Wesley Pentz, has denied the claims and his lawyer has told Pitchfork that this is an “ongoing smear campaign” against him.
Shelly Auguste, 27, is suing the 45-year-old for sexual battery, gender violence, intentional intrusion into private affairs, battery, assault, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and fraud, as well as violation of the Ralph Civil Rights Act and violation of the Tom Bane Civil Rights Act.
In response to the filing, Diplo’s attorney Bryan J. Freedman said: “For more than three years, Shelly Auguste has been orchestrating an ongoing smear campaign against Wes — and this is just more of the same.
“Ms. Auguste has already been the subject of a restraining order, the violation of which resulted in an arbitrator’s ruling and a court judgment of more than $1.2 million in damages because of her misconduct.
“Her recent attempt to enlist a co-conspirator to shake down Wes in a bogus lawsuit fell apart within days when indisputable evidence disproved her story, and the case was dismissed.
“To be clear, in no way has my client violated any law,” they continued. “In fact, he has repeatedly made it clear that he wants nothing whatsoever to do with this person — and simply needs her ongoing harassment of his family to end.”
Auguste first accused Diplo of distributing a nude video of her without her consent in August 2020, and again in November of the same year.
In 2020, Diplo denied these charges and sought an injunction of his own.
The DJ claimed the 27-year-old sent nude images of him to his ex-lovers, including the mother of his children and also posted them on social media sites.
Celebrity attorney Lisa Bloom, who is representing Auguste, previousl told E! News: “I am proud to represent my client, a woman who has made the choice to stand up for her rights.”
“After vetting her claims and speaking to three other women, we find her to be brave and credible. In all cases, witnesses are essential, and we encourage anyone with information regarding this case or this defendant to reach out to us.”
A civil trial is reportedly scheduled for April 2024.
In a previous online rant on X, Auguste alleged that Diplo took explicit content of her without her consent and said: “I SPECIFICALLY asked him not too & his reply was ‘f*** it. I’m recording this.'”
She also claimed that he hired a “private investigator” to find out her address, her parent’s address and her places of work in order to “scare” her out of sharing the “disgusting details” she knew about him.
Auguste alleged: “I never had the will or intention to expose Diplo, but I slowly started to realize he is a huge manipulating liar / gaslighter who PREYS young women.”
