Diplo Sued For Allegedly Distributing Revenge Porn

American DJ and music producer Diplo (aka Thomas Wesley Pentz) has been sued for allegedly distributing revenge porn.

On Thursday (27 June), a New York woman under the pseudonym of Jane Doe sued Pentz in a California court.

The woman, 21 years old when she first met the DJ in June 2016 – they began exchanging sexually charged pics via Snapchat in April of that year – engaged in a casual relationship with Pentz over seven years and claimed that he sometimes recorded their sexual encounters with her permission but never consented to him sharing them, Rolling Stone reports.

Jane Doe alleged that, in November, she was approached by someone who claimed to have sexually explicit photos and videos of her from October 2018.

She filed a police report on 7 November. In the following days, the New York Police Department issued an arrest warrant for Pentz “for dissemination of intimate images and/or videos depicting [her],” the lawsuit states.

NYPD confirmed to Rolling Stone that there’s an “active investigation” against the DJ.

“Revenge pornography is an abhorrent violation of privacy and trust, inflicting profound emotional trauma on victims like Jane Doe,” her attorney, Micha Star Liberty, told Rolling Stone.

Liberty added that Pentz’s alleged actions represent “a severe abuse of power” as well as a “blatant disregard” for Jane Doe’s dignity.

Liberty continued, “It is imperative that we, as a society, condemn such actions and hold perpetrators accountable. This lawsuit is a vital step towards justice, highlighting the necessity of protecting the rights of those who have been exploited.”

As Vanity Fair notes, this isn’t the first time that Pentz has gotten into trouble for the alleged distribution of revenge porn.

In October 2020, a woman named Shelly Auguste claimed that the DJ sexually assaulted her, recorded the alleged assault without her consent, and distributed revenge porn.

Auguste and Pentz sued each other in 2021. Pentz denied her allegations and described her as a “stalker,” claiming that she was out to extort him.

Pentz was awarded $1.2 million in the case against Auguste last year after an arbitrator found that she had violated a restraining order signed with the DJ.

Auguste is suing Pentz again, this time for claims including sexual battery and defamation. The case will be heard in civil court in January 2025.

This article contains discussions of sexual assault. If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault or domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.