Shia LaBeouf Charged with Battery Following Alleged Homophobic Bar Assault
Actor Shia LaBeouf has been formally charged with battery and is accused of repeatedly using homophobic slurs while physically assaulting multiple people at a New Orleans bar during the city's famous Mardi Gras celebrations, according to detailed police reports. The incident occurred at the Royal Street Inn & R Bar, located near the historic French Quarter, where LaBeouf allegedly became "irate and aggressive" throughout the night.
Violent Confrontation Captured on Video
Police documents obtained through a public records request state that LaBeouf, aged 39, struck several individuals with a closed fist during the altercation. One of the victims, identified as local entertainer Jeffrey Damnit, reported that LaBeouf hit him multiple times, connected with punches, and pushed him on several occasions. Damnit, who was wearing eye makeup and lipstick at the time, believes his appearance may have motivated the attack, with LaBeouf shouting homophobic slurs and threatening his life.
"This guy wants me to be dead because I wear makeup. It's a screwed up thing," Damnit stated, describing how LaBeouf "just got nuts" trying to start fights and threatening to beat people up.
Video evidence from the scene shows a shirtless LaBeouf shoving one person to the ground and striking another in the face, potentially dislocating their nose. Despite efforts by Damnit and others to subdue him and encourage him to leave, LaBeouf reportedly became more aggressive and refused to depart the area.
Arrest and Continued Aggression
Police arrived at the bar around 12:45 a.m. on Fat Tuesday, where additional video recorded by Damnit shows LaBeouf appearing to mouth a homophobic slur while being detained. The police report indicates he continued repeating the slur throughout his arrest, telling officers, "These f–––––s put me in jail," and claiming he was Catholic while denying any physical contact.
LaBeouf was released from custody without bond by a New Orleans magistrate judge on Tuesday, according to Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office spokesperson Gary Scheets. He faces two counts of simple battery. Following his release, videos surfaced showing LaBeouf dancing in the French Quarter and waving his jail release papers.
Victim's Concerns and LaBeouf's Legal History
Damnit, a member of the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, expressed worry about potential professional ramifications for pressing charges against the actor. This incident adds to LaBeouf's history of legal troubles, which includes:
- Court-ordered rehabilitation after a 2017 arrest in New York for public drunkenness and disorderly conduct.
- An arrest in Georgia later that year for similar charges while filming "The Peanut Butter Falcon," resulting in probation.
- 2020 misdemeanor battery and petty theft charges in Los Angeles.
Additionally, in 2020, singer and actor FKA Twigs filed a lawsuit alleging physical and emotional abuse during their relationship, which was settled in July. LaBeouf initially apologized but later denied the accusations in a 2021 filing.
Background and Career
LaBeouf first gained acclaim as a child actor on the Disney Channel series "Even Stevens" and is best known for roles in "Transformers" (2007) and "Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull" (2008). He shares a daughter, born in 2022, with actor Mia Goth. Representatives for LaBeouf did not immediately respond to requests for comment, though he posted "Free me" on his X account in the early hours of February 18.
