Reports have emerged that Margaret Qualley and Shia LaBeouf have split after a short-lived romance.
The controversial pair only recently made headlines when they went public with their romance just weeks after news broke that LaBeouf’s former partner FKA Twigs (real name Tahliah Barnett) was suing him for for alleged emotional, physical and mental abuse during their year-long relationship.
Labeouf, 34 and Qualley, 26 met on the set of a music video for the song “Love Me Like You Hate Me”, performed by Qualley’s sister’s music group Rainsford. At the time, a source said that the two grew close and “are both very passionate people” who “have fun together.”
Whether or not the allegations had anything to do with the couple’s split remains unknown. However, another source told People that they are both “just in different places in their lives,” adding that Qualley is just trying to focus on her acting career right now.
It’s safe to say that after reading the harrowing accounts of not only Barnett, but of other women from LaBeouf’s past who have shared their own stories of alleged abuse at the hands of the Honeyboy actor, we’ve breathed a collective sigh of relief over news of their split.
While still trying to digest the horrifying incidents of abuse detailed in the lawsuit, wherein the actor is accused of knowingly infecting women with STIs, choking and threatening them, it’s difficult to watch another person, especially a woman as young as Qualley, seemingly turn a blind-eye to the glaring red flags.
As Barnett powerfully noted in her original post about her lawsuit, domestic violence does not discriminate and many survivors often feel shame for being victims of abuse.
“It may be surprising to you to learn that i was in an emotionally and physically abusive relationship. it was hard for me to process too, during and after i never thought something like this would happen to me. which is why i have decided it’s important for me to talk about it and try to help people understand that when you are under the coercive control of an abuser or in an intimate partner violent relationship leaving doesn’t feel like a safe or achievable option,” she wrote.
“My second worst nightmare is being forced to share with the world that i am a survivor of domestic violence. My first worst nightmare is not telling anyone and knowing that i could have helped even just one person by sharing my story.”
LaBeouf responded to the allegations, stating: “I’m not in any position to tell anyone how my behaviour made them feel. I have no excuses for my alcoholism or aggression, only rationalisations. I have been abusive to myself and everyone around me for years. I have a history of hurting the people closest to me. I’m ashamed of that history and am sorry to those I hurt. There is nothing else I can really say.”
Sign our petition calling on the government to make coercive control a crime and help us change the lives of thousands of women.
If you or anyone you know needs help or advice, contact 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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