Shia LaBeouf attributes his arrest in New Orleans last week to his fear of "big gay people," revealing this in an interview with YouTuber Andrew Callaghan released on Saturday. The 39-year-old actor shared what led to his arrest during the city's Mardi Gras celebrations.
"When I'm standing by myself and three gays are next to me, touching my leg, I get scared," he said. "I'm sorry. If that's homophobic, then I'm that. Yeah."
"I'll be honest with you, big gay people are scary to me," LaBeouf added. A representative for the actor did not immediately return a request for comment.
LaBeouf, best known for his starring role in "Transformers" and the Disney Channel's "Even Stevens," was arrested in New Orleans last week and accused of hitting two people outside a Royal Street business during the celebrations, according to police.
"LaBeouf then reportedly assaulted another person, punching him in the nose," police said in a statement last week. "LaBeouf was again held down until police arrived."
It is unclear what exactly led to the incident, but in the interview with Callaghan, the actor suggested he had an altercation with a gay person or was annoyed by gay people's presence near him.
"I'm good with gay — be gay over there, though," he said. "Don't be gay in my lap."
"That's why. I was drunk and it's Mardi Gras. So everything I'm saying is nonsense," he added.
LaBeouf was arrested upon his release from the hospital that day for treatment of "unknown injuries." He was charged with two counts of simple battery, according to authorities.
Last week's arrest was not his first run-in with the law, nor were his latest comments his first bigoted remarks. In 2017, LaBeouf was arrested on suspicion of public drunkenness and made racist remarks to police upon his arrest, according to The Associated Press. The actor later apologized, citing his addiction as a struggle, and the public drunkenness allegations were dropped.
In 2020, he was sued by his ex-partner, British singer FKA Twigs, who accused him of choking her and knowingly giving her a sexually transmitted disease. The case was settled out of court last year.
