Diplo Revenge Porn case judge rules jane doe must reveal herself

Photo Credit: Diplo by Berengould / CC by 3.0

Diplo’s revenge porn accuser fears harassment if her name is disclosed, but a federal judge rules she must reveal her identity.

The woman accusing Diplo of sharing revenge porn against her wishes to remain anonymous, having filed her civil lawsuit against the DJ as a Jane Doe. But a Los Angeles federal judge has ruled that she must reveal her identity in order for her case to move forward.

Jane Doe filed her case back in late June, alleging the DJ — real name Thomas Wesley Pentz — filmed their sexual encounters and shared them on Snapchat. But Judge Mónica Ramírez Almadani ruled last Tuesday (December 31) that the accuser had failed to prove a legal need to remain anonymous.

“The court appreciates the plaintiff’s allegations in her complaint are sensitive and of a highly personal nature, and that she may face some public scrutiny,” wrote the judge. “However, absent a demonstrated need for anonymity, there is a prevailing public interest in open judicial proceedings.”

The prevalence of Doe pseudonyms in sexual abuse complaints makes sense, with accusers fearing retaliation if their names are revealed. But many judges, like Judge Almadani, believe such treatment should be reserved for high-risk situations. Unfortunately for this Jane Doe, her case against Diplo does not qualify under the court’s standard.

Attorneys for Jane Doe called the ruling “disappointing,” but admitted such decisions were “increasingly common” in abuse cases levied against celebrities.

“The imbalance of power in a situation like this is startling and should not be underestimated by the public, or by the courts,” said Margaret Mabie and Helene Weiss in a statement to Billboard. “In the digital age, being compelled to disclose one’s name in such proceedings risks permanently linking a survivor to their trauma.”

Regardless, the ruling is a win for Team Diplo. The DJ has strongly denied the allegations in the lawsuit, arguing his accuser must reveal her name. His lawyers asserted in court filings that Diplo “cannot adequately confront his accuser without knowing her identity.”