Diplo sued, accused of distributing revenge porn over 5 years

An unnamed woman has sued Diplo, claiming she is a victim of revenge pornography distributed by the Grammy-winning DJ and music producer.

In a complaint filed in California federal court Thursday and obtained by USA TODAY, Jane Doe — a New York resident — accused 45-year-old Diplo, whose real name is Thomas Wesley Pentz, of distributing intimate images of her and engaging in gender violence.

Vanity Fair was first to report the news.

In her lawsuit, the accuser claims to have started a sexual relationship with Diplo over Snapchat in 2016, when she was 21, and exchanged intimate photographs until October 2023. Jane Doe alleges that "on some occasions" she gave him permission to record their sexual encounters but did not consent to him distributing the footage.

Doe accuses Diplo of sharing sexual videos of her between 2018 and 2023 without her knowledge or consent. After a third party allegedly reached out to Doe in November 2023 claiming to have received sexual videos and images depicting her, Doe says she reported Diplo to the New York Police Department for disseminating intimate images, per the lawsuit.

A spokesperson for the NYPD's Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information, confirmed to USA TODAY on Friday: "There is a criminal complaint on file for unlawful dissemination for a suspect with the name of Thomas Pentz which is currently being investigated by NYPD detectives."

Lawyer says Diplo 'has been targeted' by 'untrustworthy individuals'

Diplo's attorney, notable Hollywood lawyer Bryan Freedman, said in a statement to USA TODAY on Friday that "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."

In 2021, a woman who'd sued Diplo in Clark County, Nevada, accusing him of forcing her to perform oral sex, dropped her lawsuit, per Rolling Stone.

Freedman's statement continues: "Time and again, Wes has been targeted by a group of untrustworthy individuals and their unscrupulous lawyers, cobbling together falsehoods in search of a meritless payday. 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.”

The DJ — known for collaborating with celebrities such as Beyoncé ("All Night," "Hold Up"), Justin Bieber ("Where Are Ü Now") and Tiësto and Busta Rhymes ("C’Mon") — is also part of the supergroup Major Lazer and one-half of the duo Jack Ü, which he formed with Skrillex.

Other accusations against Diplo

According to Jane Doe's filing, she seeks "to recover for the emotional and physical injuries she endured because of Diplo’s actions and to make sure no one else is forced to suffer the privacy invasions and physical and mental trauma she felt and continues to feel to this day."

She is seeking compensation for damages and a jury trial, per the lawsuit.

One of Jane Doe's attorneys, Helene M. Weiss, said in a statement shared with USA TODAY, "Tragically, this is not the first time the defendant has shamed and violated a woman by disseminating intimate images without her consent.

"Diplo's alleged illicit pattern of behavior illustrates the harm he's caused Jane Doe, and other young women just like her. Our client deserves justice, and she’s hopeful that this litigation may serve as a catalyst in ending the defendant's repeated victimization of women once and for all."

Diplo has been in a legal battle in Los Angeles court with a woman named Shelly Auguste since 2020. According to court documents reviewed by USA TODAY, in November of that year, August filed for a domestic violence restraining order against Diplo. The following month, the DJ asked the court to grant him a restraining order against Auguste.

According to a 2021 Buzzfeed News report, both restraining orders were granted. In April 2021, Diplo sued her, alleging stalking and trespassing. Nearly two months later, Auguste filed a new lawsuit against him, in which she reportedly accused him of sexual battery and assault.

In September 2022, an arbitrator reportedly recommended the court award $1.2 million in damages to him after Auguste allegedly violated the terms of the restraining order, per Billboard and Pitchfork.

Court records reviewed by USA TODAY show Diplo filed a civil harassment petition against Auguste in August 2023. The following month, according to Pitchfork, Auguste filed a lawsuit against Diplo accusing him of revenge porn. Court records show several different ongoing cases between the two.

Diplo has denied previous misconduct accusations

In response to Auguste's accusations, in October 2021 Diplo posted on Instagram detailing his denials of her various claims. He called her "an obsessed fan of mine."

After I relinquished all contact with her, it appears that her only purpose in life has been to disrupt my work, my business, harass me and my close friends and attack me and threaten my family."

He said they had "a night of consensual sex" then exchanged texts for a few months after. He added that in April 2021, he sued Auguste accusing her of stalking, trespassing and distributing revenge porn.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Diplo lawsuit accuses DJ of distributing revenge porn