Restraining order filed against Diplo following “revenge porn” reports

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Update: 18/11/2020: A judge has granted the requested restraining order against Diplo. A statement from attorney Lisa Bloom seen by DJ Mag reads as follows: “We are pleased to announce that by an order dated November 16, 2020, the Court ordered our requests ‘all granted’ and the restraining order issued. In fact, the Court went even further, banning Diplo from distributing explicit images of our client without ‘express written permission’ from her or from the court, and that he ‘shall identify and remove any such images previously posted or distributed’.”

A hearing on a permanent restraining order has been set for 8th December 2020.

A Los Angeles woman has filed a restraining order against Diplo, seeking to prevent the producer and DJ from “distributing revenge porn”, which her attorney says is “designed to humiliate her and to scare other women out of coming forward”, the Daily Beast reports.

The woman is being represented by high-profile attorney Lisa Bloom, who has previously represented victims of Bill Cosby as well as alleged victims of Jeffrey Epstein. An application was made for the restraining order against Diplo in the Los Angeles County Superior Court on Friday November 13th. 

It has been reported in a Twitter thread by the woman that the DJ and producer, real name Thomas Wesley Pentz, groomed her and hired a private investigator to “scare me into not speaking out on the disgusting details I know about him”. She goes on to report that Pentz had filmed the pair engaging in sexual activity without her consent.

Speaking to Pitchfork, the woman’s lawyer, Lisa Bloom, said: “I am proud to represent a young woman with serious allegations of misconduct against Diplo. We have reviewed her claims, and spoken to several other women. We find her to be credible and brave. We recently filed for a restraining order to prevent Diplo or anyone associated with him from distributing revenge porn images of my client, which is illegal and often done to discourage accusers from coming forward.”

Diplo’s attorney Bryan J. Freedman also provided a statement to Pitchfork, saying: “Unfortunately, this individual has been harassing my client and his family for more than a year and has repeatedly refused to stop doing so. 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.”

If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this article, the following organisations may be able to provide help and advice:

In the UK 

Victim Support

Provides help and information for anyone who has been affected by a crime, including a violent or sexual assault, or is wary about involving the police.

Helpline: 0845 30 30 900 (Seven days a week) 

Website: www.victimsupport.org 

The Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre

Support and information for women and girls who have been raped or sexually abused, however long ago and whatever the circumstances.

Helpline: 0845 1221 331 (Seven days a week)

Website: www.rapecrisis.org.uk

Samaritans

Provides confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair.

Helpline: 08457 90 90 90 (24 hours a day, seven days a week)

Website: www.samaritans.org

In North America

RAINN

RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization

The National Sexual Assault Hotline (24 hours, seven days a week):800.656.HOPE (4673), online.rainn.org, rainn.org/es

Website: https://www.rainn.org/ 

National Sexual Violence Resource Center

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) is the leading nonprofit in providing information and tools to prevent and respond to sexual violence. 

Directory of organizations: https://www.nsvrc.org/organizations

Website: https://www.nsvrc.org/