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Diplo Settles Long-Standing Legal Disputes Amid Controversy in the Global DJ Scene
A high-profile legal battle involving world-renowned DJ and producer Diplo, whose real name is Thomas Wesley Pentz, has finally reached a settlement after years of dispute. The case stems from allegations of sexual misconduct, assault, and revenge porn made by a woman named Auguste, as reported by Rolling Stone.
Trigger Warning: This article includes references to sexual harassment and assault.
The Allegations Against Diplo
In 2020, Auguste accused Diplo of grooming her into sending him explicit images when she was a teenager in 2014. She also alleged that he distributed these images online without her consent. In November 2020, Auguste filed for a temporary restraining order, claiming that Diplo had sexually assaulted her, recorded their sexual encounters without permission, and posted the footage online in retaliation when she voiced her discontent.
Diplo denied all allegations, countering that Auguste was a former fan with whom he had a consensual relationship but who was now fabricating claims to seek attention.
Lengthy Disputes and Arbitration
In January 2021, both parties agreed to resolve their differences through arbitration, a process involving a neutral third party to mediate the dispute outside of court. As part of the settlement, neither party was allowed to disclose information about the other publicly.
However, by 2022, the arbitrator ruled that both Diplo and Auguste had violated the terms of their agreement. Diplo was awarded $1.2 million in damages.
New Allegations in 2023
In addition to Auguste’s case, Diplo faced fresh allegations in 2023 from another woman, identified under the pseudonym "Jane Doe." She claimed that she began a relationship with Diplo in 2016 at the age of 21 and occasionally allowed him to record intimate moments. However, she did not consent to the distribution of those recordings.
Jane Doe alleged that Diplo shared these private videos with others through Snapchat and private messages on October 14, 2018.
Diplo has denied these allegations as well. His attorney, Brian Freedman, labeled Jane Doe’s claims as "another attempt at extortion" and stated that this case mirrored the previous accusations.
Moving Forward
Despite the controversies, Diplo continues to assert his innocence, maintaining that the allegations are baseless and financially motivated. The legal saga has shed light on issues of privacy, consent, and accountability within the entertainment industry.
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