Shia LaBeouf Arrested After Brawl During Mardi Gras; Earlier Bar-Crawl Sparks Complaints
Actor Shia LaBeouf was arrested early Tuesday morning ET in New Orleans after an altercation that left two people injured, police said, capping off several days of confrontations and disruptive behavior around Uptown bars during Mardi Gras celebrations.
Extended bar crawl drew complaints from staff and patrons
Staff and patrons at multiple Uptown establishments described run-ins with LaBeouf over the long holiday weekend. Witnesses said the actor visited a string of bars beginning Thursday and was seen at venues along major parade routes, including a cigar bar with live jazz and several long-standing dive bars on Magazine Street and nearby blocks.
At one dive bar near Napoleon and Magazine, a doorman identified as Robert Skuse said LaBeouf arrived shirtless and appeared noticeably inebriated. Staff asked him to leave after what they characterized as belligerent behavior and an attempt to work behind the bar. On another night, a bartender said LaBeouf returned only after being told to put his shirt back on, and another employee quipped that he seemed to be “terrorizing the city. ” Several patrons described friendly photo requests and brief cordial interactions on some nights, while at others they said he grew louder and more demanding.
At a neighborhood restaurant along the parade route, managers said a credit card was dipped twice and a gratuity was added after an incident in which he left without signing. Other bars confirmed brief visits with no apparent incidents earlier in the weekend. Multiple accounts placed him at a luxury short-term rental in the Uptown sector where many visiting revelers had been staying during the festivities.
Arrest followed a brawl on Royal Street
Police say the events escalated in the early hours of Tuesday morning ET outside a Royal Street business, where the actor was kicked out after causing a disturbance. Officers were called after at least one patron said he had been struck multiple times with closed fists. When LaBeouf briefly left the scene, witnesses said he returned and became more aggressive, striking the same victim again and later punching another person in the nose.
Multiple bystanders attempted to restrain him before releasing him so he could leave; he was reportedly held down a second time until officers arrived. One victim was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries described by authorities as needing medical attention. LaBeouf was transported to a hospital and was arrested upon release. He faces two counts of simple battery.
No additional details about the motive for the confrontation have been released. Police statements said the investigation is ongoing.
Legal history and prior allegations put the episode in broader context
The arrest follows a string of previous public incidents and legal disputes involving the actor. In earlier years, an ex-partner filed a lawsuit alleging sustained abuse; that case was later settled. The actor has publicly acknowledged struggles with alcoholism and past aggression, at times attributing prior conduct to addiction. He has also pleaded guilty in a separate case that resulted in probation after an arrest for public disturbance.
There has been no immediate comment from the actor’s representatives about this latest arrest. Local officials continue to monitor crowd safety as Mardi Gras events conclude, and law enforcement indicated they will pursue charges as the investigation develops.
