Diplo could face criminal charges over rape and sexual misconduct claims
Diplo's lawyer has denied claims of wrongdoing against his client
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Diplo may face criminal charges over claims he raped a woman and knowingly gave her a sexually transmitted infection, BuzzFeed News reported on Tuesday.
Born Thomas Wesley Pentz, the EDM DJ has been accused by a 25-year-old woman – whom the Los Angeles Police Department is not identifying out of privacy – of recording sexually explicit videos of her without her permission, distributing at least one without her consent and knowingly infecting her with chlamydia, according to the report.
The Los Angeles City Attorney’s office is reportedly considering charges of invasion of privacy and intentionally giving someone an STI.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Diplo attends the 2020 amfAR New York Gala in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/WireImage,) (Getty)
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"We are reviewing the referral and have no further comment at this time," Rob Wilcox, spokesperson for the LA city attorney, told the outlet.
The woman, who filed her complaint with the LAPD in October 2020, also claimed to police that Diplo, now 42, raped her in his Las Vegas hotel room after one of his concerts, but no criminal charges have been filed over the alleged incident.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}In a statement to Page Six on Wednesday, Diplo’s lawyer denied any wrongdoing on behalf of his client.
"Yet more lies from the same disturbed individual who has been stalking and menacing Wes, his family and his friends for years," Bryan Freedman said. "As is well known, this person tried to extort Wes for millions of dollars and, after he refused to pay her a penny, launched an unceasing campaign of harassment against my client.
"She has been peddling her lies around the country in a desperate attempt to harm Wes and those he loves, but she will not succeed."
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Diplo also has taken legal action of his own against the alleged victim, previously having secured a temporary restraining order against her and suing her for stalking, trespassing and distribution of private materials, according to the report. It is unclear if the musician, who has worked with stars such as Ariana Grande and Beyoncé, has filed reports of any kind with law enforcement.
Throughout his career, the Major Lazer DJ has faced various accusations of sexual misconduct. Over the summer, he was accused of coercing a drunk woman into giving him oral sex and filming the encounter, but his attorney dismissed the claims as a "shakedown." The unnamed woman later dropped her lawsuit.
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