Celebrity4 min(s) read
Shia LaBeouf criticized for claiming 'gay men scare him' as he is arrested for second time in days
Shia LaBeouf found himself back in handcuffs in New Orleans, just hours after publicly insisting that alcohol is not the root of his problems.
The 39-year-old actor was arrested again in connection with a Mardi Gras bar brawl that first landed him in custody on February 17.
According to an update from the Associated Press, LaBeouf was arrested and charged with one misdemeanor count of simple battery on February 28.
Shia LaBeouf’s Mardi Gras arrest and new warrant explained
LaBeouf was first arrested on February 17 after allegedly becoming involved in a physical altercation with two men at a New Orleans bar.
Video footage from the night appeared to show the actor shouting gay slurs, calling the men “f*****s” while throwing punches. At one point, he was captured head-butting one of the men, which, according to the police report, left the man with a possibly broken nose.
Despite the arrest, LaBeouf resumed partying just hours after being released from jail. The following day, he was seen going for a run before attending church for Ash Wednesday service.
He later appeared in court, where Judge Simone Levine ordered him to attend rehab, undergo a drug testing program, and post a $100,000 bond as conditions of his release.
However, in a new twist, the New Orleans Police Department issued another warrant tied to the original bar altercation, leading to his latest arrest.
“No regular person would be required to post over $100,000 in bonds, and be jailed two separate times for one misdemeanor incident,” his attorney, Chervinsky, told the Associated Press.
“Just as he does not deserve preferential treatment, Mr. LaBeouf also does not deserve to be treated more harshly by the police and courts just because he is a public figure.”
Shia LaBeouf blames fear of gay people for bar brawl
In a lengthy interview with Andrew Callaghan’s Channel 5, posted to YouTube, LaBeouf addressed the incident directly and made comments that quickly sparked backlash.
“I’ll be honest with you, big gay people are scary to me,” he said. “When I’m like standing by myself and three gays are next to me, touching my leg, I get scared. I’m sorry. If that’s homophobic, then I’m that. Yeah.”
After clarifying that his description of events only “happened one time,” he added: “Well, that’s why I, umm, got arrested.”
He later stated: “I am wrong for touching anyone. Ever. And that’s the end of my statement on this whole s***,” while also noting that he did not want to describe the situation as him being “groped and surrounded.”
Elsewhere in the interview, he elaborated on his stance, saying: “I’m good with gay, [but] be gay over there, though. Don’t be gay in my lap.”
He continued: “That’s why. I was drunk and it’s Mardi Gras. So, everything I’m saying is nonsense.”
Addressing his behavior more broadly, LaBeouf did not hold back in condemning himself.
He said: “It was no good, bro. My behavior’s dirty, ugly, disgusting, so I gotta eat it, you know?”
When asked about the possibility of jail time, he appeared unfazed. “It’s another experience. Jail be another adventure. What are you gonna do.”
LaBeouf also seemingly confirmed that the derogatory comments he made toward LGBTQ people were central to why he was taken into custody. An alleged victim, identified as New Orleans patron ‘Jeffrey Dammit,’ has claimed that LaBeouf threatened to “kick his ass” and called him a homophobic slur.
Shia LaBeouf denies drinking problem and speaks on ‘small man complex’
Although court-ordered to attend rehab, LaBeouf insisted he does not believe alcohol is the core issue.
“I don’t think I have a drinking problem. I think I have a different problem and I’m gonna address it,” he said. “I think I have a small man complex.”
He elaborated further: “Some kind of Napoleonic, I don’t know what it is. I think it’s something that has to do with anger and ego more than my drinking.”
LaBeouf also disclosed deeply personal details about his upbringing and mental health, saying he feels triggered when his “masculinity” is “challenged.”
“My dad was raped by his cousin. So, he was in my ear all the time,” he claimed, suggesting the issue may have been building for years.
He maintained that he has never harbored hostility toward gay people in general.
“I’ve never had no problem with gay people. Never. I remember paying for people’s transition surgery when I was f***ing around on the internet heavy. I’ve never been adversarial towards it,” he said.
Still, he admitted that his conduct during the altercation was “bulls***,” while also expressing reluctance to return to rehab despite reports that his ex Mia Goth wants him to seek treatment. According to LaBeouf, he does not believe he will find “answers” in a rehabilitation facility.