Shia LaBeouf has sparked fresh controversy after making a series of remarks about gay men in a newly released interview, days after being arrested in New Orleans during Mardi Gras celebrations.
The 39-year-old actor appeared in a Channel 5 interview with Andrew Callaghan, recorded on February 24, one week after Fat Tuesday, and published on February 28.
During the hour-long conversation, LaBeouf reflected on the incident that led to his arrest and addressed allegations that he used a homophobic slur.
At one point in the interview, he said, ‘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.’
He continued, ‘I was drunk and then I felt infringed upon in terms of my proximity. But I wasn’t in my right mind, and so it’s on me.’
LaBeouf also acknowledged using language he described as unacceptable. ‘I said words not ok to say. I don’t want to hurt nobody’s feelings… I’m wrong for what I did,’ he said.
The comments come after LaBeouf was arrested in the early hours of Mardi Gras morning on suspicion of two counts of simple battery following an altercation at a bar in the Marigny area, near the French Quarter.
According to police paperwork, two men were identified as victims in the case.
Jeffrey ‘Damnit’ Klein alleged that LaBeouf shouted a homophobic slur at him while attempting to confront him physically, The Guardian reports.
Klein, who said he had been dressed in drag for the celebrations, also shared cellphone footage that appears to show the actor in the back of an emergency vehicle glancing toward him and repeating the same slur.
In the video, Klein can be heard responding, ‘Keep on calling me [slur].’
Nathan Thomas Reed, also named by police, said via text message that he too was subjected to the same language and wanted it ‘to be known’ that the term was allegedly used repeatedly.
Images circulating from the scene appear to show LaBeouf being thrown to the ground and restrained during the altercation. Court records later cited by TMZ state he is facing two counts of simple battery.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, employees at several bars claimed that on the night of the incident LaBeouf arrived at one venue shirtless and without cash, appeared inebriated and repeatedly said, ‘Do you know who I am?’ He was described as acting ‘somewhat belligerent.’
He posted a $100,000 bond on Thursday after making a court appearance and the actor is now required to check into rehab and undergo regular drug and alcohol testing.
During the Channel 5 interview, LaBeouf said he had relocated to New Orleans following the Los Angeles wildfires in January 2025, citing deep family roots in the area.
He shared details of his family history, explaining that his paternal grandmother was a lesbian who married a man who served as her ‘beard’ to conceal her sexuality publicly.
He said his surname was originally spelled LeBoeuf, but that his grandmother altered the spelling after being disowned by her family.
Addressing sexuality more broadly, LaBeouf added, ‘I’m good with gay. Be gay over there though. Don’t be gay in my lap.’
Elsewhere in the conversation, he briefly discussed the breakdown of his marriage to actress Mia Goth, with whom he shares daughter Isabel, who turns four in March.
‘It’s not new heartbreak. I don’t want to talk too much about it. It’s not my story alone to tell, but my side is I failed my marriage, so I had to own up to that. So that’s why I moved out here,’ he said.
LaBeouf’s latest remarks have drawn criticism online, adding to renewed scrutiny of the actor in the wake of his arrest.
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