Shia LaBeouf has been granted permission to travel to Rome for his father’s baptism, days after a New Orleans judge initially denied his request. The actor, 39, is out on bond following his arrest on Mardi Gras for allegedly punching two men and head-butting a third at a bar.
On 26 February, state judge Simone Levine refused LaBeouf’s travel request because it lacked a detailed itinerary. However, on 4 March, magistrate Peter Hamilton approved the trip after LaBeouf’s attorney, Sarah Chervinsky, provided a travel plan. Court records show the visit is scheduled from 1 to 8 March for religious purposes.
LaBeouf was arrested on 17 February on misdemeanour battery charges after an altercation at the R Bar in New Orleans’ Marigny neighbourhood. Police allege he used homophobic slurs during the incident, which is now part of the court record. He was initially released without bond but later required to post $105,000 in bonds after the slurs were disclosed.
The alleged victims include one man who identifies as queer and another who dresses in drag. The latter has expressed hope that prosecutors will pursue hate crime charges under a state law allowing enhanced penalties for offences targeting victims based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
LaBeouf later gave an interview to Channel 5, citing his “traditional Catholic” faith and stating “big gay people are scary” to him. He claimed the violence occurred after “three gay dudes” touched his leg, saying he “got scared”. The actor has a history of legal troubles and previous accusations of homophobia.
