In a shocking turn of events, renowned DJ Diplo finds himself embroiled in a high-stakes legal battle that has sent shockwaves through the music industry. Accusations of revenge porn, sexual battery, and a smear campaign have thrust the 45-year-old artist into the spotlight once again, leaving fans and industry insiders stunned.
Shelly Auguste, the woman at the center of the storm, has filed a police report against Diplo, alleging that he distributed explicit photos of her without her consent. Auguste, who previously took legal action against the DJ in 2020, is now suing him for a litany of charges, including sexual battery, gender violence, intentional intrusion into private affairs, and defamation.
According to Pitchfork, Auguste went to the police in August to report being a victim of revenge porn. She claimed that on the same day, a mysterious woman contacted her on Instagram, revealing that she possessed six nude photos of her. Auguste believes that Diplo is behind the distribution of these photos, fueled by his anger over her legal actions against him. She stated that he aims to harass and embarrass her.
In a statement, Auguste expressed her frustration with the music industry’s complicity in enabling abuse, saying, “I have been silenced for far too long.” She hopes that the restraining order she obtained against Diplo will provide her with the peace and protection she seeks. Additionally, she is counting on the ongoing criminal investigation to deliver justice this time.
However, Diplo’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, has vehemently denied the allegations, accusing Auguste of orchestrating an ongoing smear campaign against his client for over three years. Freedman pointed out that Auguste has already been the subject of a restraining order, resulting in a court judgment of over $1.2 million in damages due to her misconduct. He further claimed that her recent attempt to shake down Diplo in a bogus lawsuit fell apart when evidence disproved her story, leading to the case’s dismissal.
This legal battle between Diplo and Auguste has been marred by a history of acrimony. In July 2021, Auguste initially accused Diplo of recording and distributing sexual content without her consent. The DJ denied these allegations, labeling Auguste as “dangerously unstable” and claiming that she had relentlessly tried to communicate with him after their relationship ended. The pair had previously signed a dual restraining order agreement, which prohibited them from disparaging each other. However, in September 2022, Diplo was awarded $1.2 million after an arbitrator determined that Auguste had violated the agreement through her Instagram social media posts.
As the legal drama unfolds, the music industry is left grappling with the implications of these explosive allegations. Diplo, a prominent figure in the industry, has faced numerous controversies throughout his career, but this latest scandal threatens to tarnish his reputation permanently.
With a civil trial scheduled for April 2024, the world eagerly awaits the resolution of this gripping legal battle. Will justice be served, or will the truth remain elusive in the face of conflicting accounts? Only time will tell as the music industry braces itself for the fallout from this shocking saga of revenge, betrayal, and scandal.
