Featured Image Credit: Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan
Topics: Shia LaBeouf
William Morgan
Actor Shia LaBeouf has been lambasted after he blamed his arrest for a Mardi Gras brawl on 'big gay people' in a sit-down interview that viewers called 'unhinged'.
The 39-year-old star was arrested on February 17 after getting into a fight outside of a bar in New Orleans during the city's annual booze-soaked celebrations and charged with two counts of battery.
He was then arrested again on February 26 in connection with the incident after the judge learned of alleged homophobic insults thrown during the street fight, with a third battery charge added and the actor required to post a $5000 bail, per Guardian reporting.
But rather than showing contrition for the alleged assault, in a candid interview with investigative journalist Andrew Callaghan of Channel 5 News on YouTube, LaBeouf bizarrely blamed his violent outburst on gay men flirting with him.
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He told Callaghan: “I’ll be honest with you, big gay people are scary to me.
“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.”
LaBeouf said that this was the cause of the incident that led to his arrest at the famously LGBT friendly event, later adding to these homophobic comments by saying: “I’m good with gay, [but] be gay over there, though. Don’t be gay in my lap.”
In a more conciliatory tone, the Transformers actor blamed his behavior on his intoxication, adding that 'everything I'm saying is nonsense'.
But in the wildly veering interview that Channel 5 fans called 'unhinged' and 'crazy', he also accepted that he should never have thrown hands, saying: "I am wrong for touching anyone. Ever. And that’s the end of my statement on this whole s***.”
LaBeouf told the journalist that his actions that night had been 'ugly', even going as far as to say he was ready to accept jail time over the alleged asssault. "It was no good, bro. My behavior’s dirty, ugly, disgusting, so I gotta eat it, you know?"
When Callaghan pressed him on potentially being incarcerated for his behavior during Mardi Gras, the Hollywood star flippantly said: "It’s another experience. Jail be another adventure. What are you gonna do."
After his first arrest, officers put out a statement that reads: "A man identified as 39-year-old Shia LaBeouf was reportedly causing a disturbance and becoming increasing[ly] aggressive at a Royal Street business." It is believed the incident took place at around 12.45am.
The New Orleans Police Department added: "Once removed from the building, the victim reported being struck by LaBeouf who used his closed fists on the victim several times. The victims reported that LaBeouf left, but then came back, acting even more aggressive."
NBC reported that the Even Stevens actor was restrained by multiple people in the midst of the incident, at which point he lashed out again at the same victim again.
Then, police allege that LaBeouf 'assaulted another person' by 'punching him in the nose'. He was then restrained again until officers arrived at the scene.
But when Callaghan asked him if alcohol was to blame for the fight, LaBeouf bizarrely said it was actually his height. “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 further argued, before adding: “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.”