Shia LaBeouf has publicly insisted that he does not suffer from a drinking problem and does not require rehabilitation, mere days before facing another arrest on a simple battery charge in New Orleans. Court documents reveal that the 39-year-old actor was taken into custody on Saturday, although it remains unclear if this latest charge is connected to a previous altercation at a bar during Mardi Gras celebrations.
Legal Troubles and Court Orders
Earlier this month, LaBeouf was initially arrested following an alleged brawl outside the Royal Street Inn & R Bar on February 17. He was accused of attacking two bartenders and using homophobic slurs repeatedly during the incident. After being released on his own recognizance and charged with two counts of simple battery, the actor now faces additional legal scrutiny.
During a court appearance on Thursday, New Orleans Criminal District Court Judge Simone Levine set bail at $100,000 and mandated that LaBeouf seek treatment. Judge Levine expressed significant concern about the potential danger he poses to alleged victims and the wider community, particularly marginalized groups who have faced historical discrimination.
Interview Revelations and Personal Struggles
In a newly released interview with Andrew Callaghan on Channel 5, filmed one week after his first arrest, LaBeouf addressed the alleged bar fight. He acknowledged needing to address his behavior but firmly rejected the idea of attending rehab.
"I'm just not into it, bro," LaBeouf stated. "I don't think my answers are there. I really, genuinely, don't. If I genuinely did, I'd go. I don't think I have a drinking problem."
Instead, the actor suggested that his issues stem from what he described as a Napoleon complex, relating to aggressive behavior often associated with shorter men. "I think I have a small man problem," he explained. "I think it's something that has to do with anger and ego more so than my drinking, but that's where I'm at now on my journey, and I'm trying to navigate it."
Controversial Comments and Victim Accounts
When questioned about what triggers his anger, LaBeouf made controversial remarks, claiming that "big gay people are scary to" him. He elaborated by saying, "I'm like, standing by myself and three gay dudes are next to me, touching my leg, I get scared. I'm sorry, if that's homophobic, then I'm that." He alleged this scenario occurred during Mardi Gras prior to his arrest.
One of the alleged victims, Jeffrey Damnit, has since called for prosecutors to upgrade the charges against LaBeouf. Damnit recounted an encounter on February 16, where the actor allegedly knocked him over and threatened him. "Then he turned around screaming, 'Don't you f***ing push me. I'll kill you.' I hadn't touched him," Damnit told The Hollywood Reporter.
Damnit, an actor who frequently visits New Orleans, has advocated for hate crime charges, telling local Fox affiliate WVUE that LaBeouf's actions warrant stricter legal action.
Judicial Concerns and Additional Requirements
Judge Levine's order includes not only the $100,000 bail and mandated rehab but also requires LaBeouf to participate in a drug testing program upon release. Prior to the hearing, LaBeouf underwent a drug and alcohol test, which his attorney, Sarah Chervinsky, argued showed no influence of alcohol or illegal substances.
However, Judge Levine remained unconvinced, noting that the test results indicated the actor "does not take his alcohol addiction seriously." This marks another chapter in LaBeouf's legal history, which includes a court-ordered rehab stint in 2017 following a disorderly conduct arrest in Georgia.
As the case develops, the intersection of personal accountability, legal consequences, and public scrutiny continues to shape the narrative around the actor's recent troubles in New Orleans.
