Shia LaBeouf is facing explosive new allegations after a chaotic Mardi Gras weekend in New Orleans that ended with his arrest.
The Transformers actor, 39, was taken into custody early Tuesday morning on two counts of misdemeanor battery following an incident at a bar in the French Quarter. Now, two individuals claim the altercation included homophobic slurs directed at them before things escalated physically.
Jeffrey Damnit, identified by local police as one of the alleged victims, told Variety that LaBeouf became aggressive while he was in drag and wearing makeup during Mardi Gras festivities. Damnit claims the actor attempted to attack him while repeatedly shouting a homophobic slur. He later shared cellphone footage that appears to show LaBeouf inside a vehicle after the incident, allegedly looking at him and repeating the same slur. In the clip, Damnit can be heard responding, “Keep on calling me faggot.”
A second individual, Nathan Thomas Reed, who identifies as queer, also told Variety that LaBeouf directed the same slur at him. Reed said he wanted it made clear that the language was used more than once during the confrontation.
An initial police report reportedly included a claim that LaBeouf was overheard saying, “These faggots put me in jail,” while referencing his Catholic faith. However, that statement did not appear in the official arrest paperwork filed later that morning.
By Tuesday afternoon, a judge ordered LaBeouf released on his own recognizance as the case moves forward.
The New Orleans Police Department declined further comment, stating the matter remains an active investigation. Prosecutors in Louisiana have the authority to pursue enhanced penalties under hate crime statutes if a violent offense is found to target someone based on sexual orientation or other protected characteristics. It is not yet clear whether that statute will be applied in this case.
LaBeouf’s representatives have not publicly responded to the allegations.
Hours after his release, the actor was seen back on Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras celebrations, reportedly dancing with beads around his neck and holding what appeared to be his release paperwork in his mouth—a move that only intensified online reaction.
As the legal process unfolds, the accusations are already sparking fierce debate across social media, with many questioning what this means for LaBeouf’s already turbulent public image.
