Early in the morning of Tuesday, February 17, actor Shia LaBeouf was arrested in New Orleans after what police described as “causing a disturbance and becoming increasing[ly] aggressive” in the French Quarter, per Deadline. He was reported to have punched people and shouted anti-gay slurs, and was charged with two counts of simple battery. On Friday, February 27, the 39-year-old LaBeouf voluntarily turned himself into the Orleans Parish Prison after an additional arrest warrant went out, this one for an additional count of simple battery related to the February 17 incident.
On Saturday, February 28, an hour-long interview between LaBeouf and Andrew Callaghan went up on YouTube and quickly racked up over a million views. In it, LaBeouf discusses the February 17 incident, his sobriety, his relationships with Mia Goth and FKA twigs, and more.
“I’ve been having the time of my life,” LaBeouf said when Callaghan asked him how he is. “You know, I got some contrition on my heart. You know what I mean? It’s not nice to hurt people ever. It’s f****** lame. People got hurt. I got to deal with that. I’mma deal with that. I’mma deal with that in full. I’ll eat it all. It was on me. It’s not on them. It’s on me. I f****** up.”
When Callaghan prompted LaBeouf about whether he takes responsibility for his situation, LaBeouf was ready. “Ten thousand percent,” the actor said. “We’re not going to play games. But, um, I had a great time.”
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LaBeouf spoke numerous times in the interview about being inebriated during the February 17 incident. “I was drunk, and I felt infringed upon, in terms of my proximity,” he said early on. “But I wasn’t in my right mind, so it’s on me.” He’s been in recovery for substance abuse before, but said he fell off the wagon nine months before the incident. At one point during the interview, he got up from the interview to get a beer. At the same time, he also said, “I don’t think I have a drinking problem. I think I have a different problem, and I’m going to address it.”
I think I have a small man complex. Some kind of Napoleonic… I don’t know what it is. 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. I’ll figure it out.
When Callaghan asked what kind of things set off LaBeouf’s anger, the actor talked about how “big gay people are scary to me. When I’m 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.”
Callaghan followed up by asking whether that happens a lot. “No, it just happened one time recently. Well, that’s why I got arrested,” LaBeouf answered. “I am wrong for touching anyone ever. And that’s the end of my statement on this.”
FKA Twigs via YouTube
Shia LaBeouf Addresses FKA Twigs Lawsuit
LaBeouf also discussed the December 2020 lawsuit filed against him by FKA twigs, who accused him of “relentless” abuse during their romantic relationship, which lasted from 2018-2019. The two settled the lawsuit in July of 2025.
“The issue with me and her had to do with jealousy and… manipulation and some stuff she talked about,” LaBeouf said. “That’s on me too. It’s not on her. That’s on me. That’s a good girl. She’s a f****** incredible artist, bro. Pay attention to her work. She’s amazing… Whatever she said, run with most of it.”
LaBeouf’s next hearing is scheduled for March 19.
