Shia LaBeouf Ordered to Rehab, Attributes Arrest to Fear of Gay Men
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Actor Shia LaBeouf has been ordered to return to drug and alcohol rehabilitation following an arrest in New Orleans during Mardi Gras celebrations, with a judge setting a $100,000 bond and mandating weekly drug tests. The 39-year-old actor’s case took a startling turn Saturday with the release of an interview where he attributed his recent altercation, and subsequent arrest, to a fear of “big gay people.”
LaBeouf was initially arrested earlier this month and charged with two counts of battery after allegedly hitting two individuals outside a business on Royal Street. Police reports stated he then assaulted a third person, punching them in the nose. The incident remains under investigation, with the exact sequence of events leading to the brawl still unclear.
In a newly released interview with YouTuber Andrew Callaghan, LaBeouf offered a controversial explanation for his behavior. “When I’m standing by myself and three gays are next to me touching my leg, I get scared,” he stated. “I’m sorry. If that’s homophobic, then I’m that. Yeah.” He further added, “I’ll be honest with you, big gay people are scary to me.”
The actor attempted to downplay the significance of his comments, attributing them to intoxication and the chaotic atmosphere of Mardi Gras. “I was drunk and it’s Mardi Gras. So everything I’m saying is nonsense,” he said.
This is not LaBeouf’s first encounter with legal trouble or controversial statements. In 2017, he was arrested on suspicion of public drunkenness and reportedly made racist remarks to police, later apologizing and citing addiction as a contributing factor. He was also the subject of a 2020 lawsuit filed by his former partner, FKA Twigs, who accused him of abuse, a case that was settled out of court last year.
The judge’s decision to order LaBeouf back into rehab underscores a pattern of behavior that has raised concerns about the actor’s well-being and public conduct. While the legal proceedings related to the Mardi Gras arrest continue, the incident and LaBeouf’s subsequent explanation have ignited a renewed debate about addiction, public behavior, and the expression of prejudice.
A representative for LaBeouf has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the interview or the court order.
