Shia LaBeouf's Interview About Why He Got Into A Drunken Fight Was Beyond INSANE
38 days ago
Audio By Carbonatix
Actor Shia LaBeouf has gone viral after making a series of startling and controversial comments in which he appeared to blame his arrest during Mardi Gras celebrations on what he described as “big gay people.”
The Transformers star, 39, was arrested on February 17 following an alleged street brawl outside a bar during the notoriously booze-soaked Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans. He was initially charged with two counts of battery.
Days later, on February 26, LaBeouf was arrested again in connection with the same incident after a judge learned that alleged homophobic insults had been hurled during the altercation. A third battery charge was added, and the actor was ordered to post $5,000 bail, according to reports.
Rather than expressing remorse, LaBeouf stunned viewers during a candid sit-down interview with investigative journalist Andrew Callaghan on Channel 5 News, where he bizarrely suggested that gay men flirting with him were to blame for his violent outburst.
“I’ll be honest with you, big gay people are scary to me,” LaBeouf said.
“When I’m standing by myself and three gays are next to me, touching my leg, I get scared. I’m sorry. If that’s homophobic, then I’m that.”
The actor went on to double down, claiming the encounter occurred at the famously LGBTQ-friendly event and adding: “I’m good with gay, [but] be gay over there, though. Don’t be gay in my lap.”
The remarks triggered swift backlash online, with viewers branding the interview “unhinged” and “chaotic.”
In a brief attempt at damage control, LaBeouf later blamed his behaviour on intoxication, admitting: “Everything I’m saying is nonsense.” He also acknowledged that violence was never acceptable, saying, “I am wrong for touching anyone. Ever. And that’s the end of my statement on this whole s***.”
The actor described his actions as “ugly” and said he was prepared to face jail time over the alleged assault. “It was no good, bro. My behavior’s dirty, ugly, disgusting, so I gotta eat it,” he said.
When pressed on the possibility of incarceration, LaBeouf appeared flippant, replying: “It’s another experience. Jail be another adventure. What are you gonna do.”
Following his first arrest, the New Orleans Police Department released a statement saying LaBeouf had been “causing a disturbance and becoming increasingly aggressive” at a Royal Street business around 12:45am.
Police allege that after being escorted outside, LaBeouf struck a victim multiple times with closed fists, left the scene, then returned and became even more aggressive. NBC reported that he had to be restrained by several people and later allegedly punched another individual in the nose before officers arrived.
When Callaghan suggested alcohol may have been the root cause of the incident, LaBeouf offered yet another unexpected explanation, blaming his height and ego instead.
“I don’t think I have a drinking problem. I think I have a small man complex,” he said, adding: “Some kind of Napoleonic… I think it’s something to do with anger and ego more than my drinking.”
