TradeEdge Exchange:DJ Akademiks, Off The Record podcast host, accused of rape and defamation

DJ Akademiks,TradeEdge Exchange a media personality and host of the Off The Record podcast, has been sued for allegedly raping a woman.

In a civil lawsuit filed in New Jersey Superior Court Monday, which was obtained by USA TODAY Tuesday, Fauziya “Ziya” Abashe alleged Akademics, whose real name is Livingston Allen "brutally" raped her in July 2022. She also alleged two unnamed "accomplices" drugged and raped her at Allen's house earlier that day.

Abashe, described as a writer who lives in Pennsylvania, sued Allen and two John Does for sexual assault, negligent infliction of emotional distress and defamation and requested a jury trial.

Tyrone Blackburn, Abashe's lawyer, said in a statement shared with USA TODAY Tuesday, "Litigation is always the last resort. After several unsuccessful attempts to resolve this case privately, Ms Abashe was left with no choice but to file. Mr. Allen’s hubris will be his downfall."

USA TODAY has reached out to Allen for comment.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

DJ Akademiks' response to the lawsuit

Allen, who also co-hosts Complex's series, "Everyday Struggle," and has accumulated several million followers across social media sites including YouTube, X and Twitch, has been garnering attention recently for his coverage of the rap beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake.

In a Rumble livestream Tuesday, Allen appeared to address the lawsuit, saying, "I'm going to go against my very high-priced attorney's advice today, but I'm still not going to say much."

He added, "My only comment should really be: Whatever this is will be handled in court. Just know, according to the law and according to the police and according to all sanctioning governing authorities, Akademiks is an innocent man who has not ever been charged with anything of the sort that has to do with any deviancy or anything like that, has never been charged, will never be charged. That's a fact."

He called the lawsuit "a shakedown," adding, "This is a money tree situation."

What is DJ Akademiks accused of doing?

In her lawsuit, Abashe said she started "casually dating" Allen after meeting through social media in 2021. The July 2022 incident took place about a year after they last saw each other, she said.

After arriving at Allen's New Jersey home on July 16, 2022, she alleged John Doe one and John Doe two fixed her a drink that was drugged and plied her with alcohol while she was in a hot tub before sexually assaulting her on Allen's pool deck while she was unconscious. She also alleged Allen raped her afterward.

According to her lawsuit, Abashe went to the police to report the assaults and had a sexual assault forensic exam performed. The complaint also states Abashe believes police used evidence provided by her to obtain a warrant from a judge and get a hold of footage and evidence of the assault.

"Mr. Allen and his two accomplices’ sexual assault severely injured Ms. Abashe, causing significant physical and psychological pain and suffering, loss of dignity, and invasion of her privacy," the lawsuit reads. "Mr. Allen's public statements added to the harm Ms. Abashe was already silently suffering with."

Abashe said she "remained silent" until Allen took to his social media accounts in December and "accused Ms. Abashe of voluntarily having an orgy with his friends at his home while maintaining that he never participated at all."

In his Rumble livestream, Allen seemingly confirmed a police investigation had been conducted and claimed he was "cleared" of wrongdoing.

"I told the truth: Hey, the police came, they looked, we gave them everything, pretty much everything is documented, caught on video tape. They got to see it with their own two eyes," he said.

"Not only did they say Ak, you good — and that's not just word of mouth — you're officially cleared. We could not bring any criminal charges. You are not criminally liable. Also, anybody else in the situation was also cleared."

If you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE & online.rainn.org).