shia labeouf allegedly hurled homophobic slurs before New Orleans arrest
Actor Shia LaBeouf was arrested in New Orleans during Mardi Gras after an altercation that left two men alleging he used homophobic slurs and struck them at a bar. LaBeouf was charged with two counts of misdemeanor battery, released on his own recognizance, and later seen back among revelers on Bourbon Street, raising fresh questions about potential legal and industry consequences.
Allegations from victims and police records
Two men identified by police say LaBeouf directed slurs at them before physical contact. One man, who uses the name Jeffrey Damnit and was wearing drag at the time, said the actor tried to strike him while yelling a homophobic epithet. Damnit provided a cellphone video showing LaBeouf in the back of a vehicle being treated by medics; in the clip, LaBeouf appears to glance toward Damnit and repeats the slur.
The other man named in the incident, Nathan Thomas Reed, who identifies as queer, also said he was targeted with the same slur. An initial police report included an exchange in which LaBeouf reportedly said, "These faggots put me in jail, " with a reference to his Catholic faith. That language did not appear in the later sworn probable-cause statement filed in criminal court.
Under Louisiana law, prosecutors may seek enhanced penalties if they determine an offense was motivated by a victim's actual or perceived sexual orientation. It remains unclear whether that framework will be applied in this case; the matter is under active investigation and must be adjudicated in court.
Arrest, release and immediate aftermath
LaBeouf was taken into custody in the early hours of Mardi Gras day and faced two counts of simple battery. He was held without bond initially, with a scheduled court appearance set for 4: 00 p. m. ET that day. By Tuesday afternoon ET a judge ordered him released on his own recognizance pending further proceedings.
Within hours of his release he returned to the parade corridor, where he was observed dancing with Mardi Gras beads and holding his release paperwork in his mouth. Speaking briefly with a regional television reporter, he called the festivities "amazing" and said the best thing about Mardi Gras was the interesting people he had met. At about 5: 30 a. m. ET on Ash Wednesday he posted a short online message that read, "Free me. "
Staffers at several New Orleans bars described LaBeouf's behavior in the days leading up to the incident as increasingly uninhibited, portraying an extended bar crawl in which employees said he was at times loud and belligerent. One bar employee recalled him attempting to act as a celebrity bartender and at another spot he was told to put his shirt back on. The actor has been candid in the past about struggles with alcohol and a path to sobriety, and those aspects of his history have been raised by some observers in the wake of the arrest.
Legal risks and workplace concerns
Prosecutors will decide whether any hate-crime enhancements apply, which could increase potential penalties if they conclude the attack was motivated by sexual orientation. Civil remedies and union considerations may also follow: one of the men said he hoped the union representing performers would review whether it is safe for LaBeouf to work with other members, underscoring concerns about on-set safety and professional consequences.
Reports have also surfaced suggesting LaBeouf and his wife, Mia Goth, quietly separated nearly a year ago; it is not clear if divorce proceedings have been filed. Representatives for LaBeouf did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the allegations. The New Orleans matter remains an ongoing investigation, and any criminal or civil developments will proceed through the courts.
