Shia LaBeouf claims that his arrest in New Orleans that came out of an alleged physical altercation stems from gay men touching him.
In a sit down with YouTuber Andrew Callaghan, LaBeouf offered his side of the Mardi Gras situation that has made him the talk of the internet.
“I’ll be honest with you,” LaBeouf began around the 39:28 mark. “Big gay people are scary to me. When I’m like, by myself and three big gay dudes are touching my leg, I’ll be honest. I get scared. I’m sorry. If that’s homophobic, then I’m that.”
Later, LaBeouf said he was “good with gay,” then immediately followed that statement up with a way in which he wasn’t quite so good with it.
“[B]e gay over there though, don’t be gay in my lap,” he said.
LaBeouf also spoke about being ordered to return to rehab because of the altercation.
“I don’t think I have a drinking problem,” he reasoned. “I have a different problem, and I’m going to address it. I think I have a small man complex. Something that has to do with anger and ego, more than my drinking.”
LaBeouf was facing two counts of simple battery following the Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans. He narrowly avoided jail time by agreeing to get treatment. The actor also agreed to submit to weekly drug testing.
In the altercation that took place near the French Quarter in New Orleans, LaBeouf reportedly shouted homophobic slurs at the men he was having an altercation with.
“At approximately 12:45am on February 17, 2026, NOPD officers were called to the 1400 block of Royal Street in response to a simple battery where two victims (two adult males), reported being assaulted,” a New Orleans Police Department rep told Complex previously. “Investigators say a man identified as 39-year-old Shia LaBeouf was reportedly causing a disturbance and becoming increasingly aggressive at a Royal Street business. A staff member attempted to eject Mr. LaBeouf from the establishment. Once removed from the building, the victim reported being struck by LaBeouf, who used his closed fists on the victim several times.”
Shortly after his arrest, LaBeouf advocated for himself to be released by writing, simply, “Free me” in an X post.
Even though he’s taken care of some of the charges, there’s more he’s dealing with. An arrest warrant was issued for LaBeouf on Feb. 27th in relation to the incident, which stems from another person who has claimed that they were involved in the altercation.
Regardless of what’s going on, though, LaBeouf doesn’t seem to be leaving New Orleans until the heat is low. He was spotted attending live events in the city and even kissing a mystery woman.