Image Source: Billboard
Famous DJ Diplo (real name Thomas Wesley Pentz) could face sexual misconduct charges in Los Angeles, according to a police complaint filed by an unidentified 25-year-old woman who claimed that the 41-year-old DJ had recorded and distributed at least one of her sexually explicit videos without her consent.
"I specifically requested that he not do so, and his response was 'f**k it.' 'I'm going to record this,' says the unnamed 25-year-old woman who posted the tweet on social media. Diplo, according to the accuser, purposely gave her a sexually transmitted disease. Diplo was also the subject of a temporary restraining order sought by the same woman earlier this year.
Diplo has rejected all the allegations, secured a temporary restraining order against the woman, and filed a lawsuit against her for stalking, trespassing, and the disclosure of private information. Bryan Freedman, Diplo's lawyer, told Billboards said, "To be clear, in no way has my client violated any law. 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." Bryan also claimed that the woman was 'harassing' him, which is why a restraining order was issued against her.
According to the unidentified woman's legal filings, the DJ initially contacted her via private message on Twitter when she was 17 years old, and the two had intercourse for the first time when she was 21 years old in 2008. The police declined to press charges in this case, and the anonymous woman also claimed that the DJ raped her in 2019 after a performance in Las Vegas. She eventually tested positive for chlamydia (STD), and she admitted that Diplo was her first and only sexual partner at the time.
Diplo obtained a temporary restraining order against the unidentified woman. Image Source: DJ Mag
The woman filed a civil action against the DJ for alleged sexual battery, defamation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress in 2020, and a temporary restraining order against him in 2021. Her lawsuit accuses Pentz of being “a middle-aged white man who targets very young Black women and girls for sexual assault.” She further claimed that the DJ hired a private investigator to follow her around and intimidate her in order for her to keep quiet about the 'disgusting information.'
According to Pentz's lawyer, the woman was an obsessed fan who was pursuing the DJ, and was upset when the DJ ended their relationship. When she made the allegations, the DJ secured a temporary restraining order against her and filed a lawsuit accusing her of harassment, trespassing, and leaking private information.
“We are reviewing the referral and have no additional comment at this time,” said Rob Wilcox, a spokesperson for the LA city attorney. According to sources, one of the obscene videos probed by the LAPD was posted by an anonymous account in October 2020. The video was shared with numerous Twitter users, who expressed their support for the woman.
Diplo was accused of sexual assault through two lawsuits over the summer which led to the cancellation of the DJ's scheduled postgame performance for the Baltimore Orioles baseball team. “I would love to come,” he tweeted to a disappointed fan, “but they listen to that garbage news instead.”
Diplo is a famous DJ who has worked with the greatest artists in the industry. Image Source: Forbes
In July, one of the lawsuits was dismissed, with Diplo's lawyer arguing that there was overwhelming evidence that the charges contained in it were incorrect. “As soon as we provided that mountain of data with the plaintiff's lawyers, they realized they needed to drop the case right away,” he continued.
Diplo has worked with some of the industry's greatest names, including Dua Lipa, Britney Spears, and Justin Bieber, and has created music for them. In 2006, he founded Mad Decent, his own record label, and two years later, he became famous for producing the tune "Paper Planes" with M.I.A., his girlfriend at the time.
Diplo has denied all the allegations. Image Source: Your EDM
The well-known DJ has recently performed at Burning Man and the Elements Music & Arts Festival, and he will perform at the Electric Daisy Carnival later this month. On 6th October Amazon Music will broadcast a documentary on Major Lazer, a DJ trio in which Pentz is a member.
