Shia Labeouf Faces Backlash After Allegedly Using Homophobic Slurs Pre-Arrest

Shia LaBeouf is facing a new wave of controversy following his recent arrest during Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans. The 39-year-old actor was taken into custody in the early hours of Wednesday, February 18, after an incident at R Bar in the Marigny neighborhood.

Authorities allege that LaBeouf became aggressive and attempted to strike a bar manager who was trying to lead him out of the building. According to police documents, the situation escalated further once the actor was outside.

Court records state that LaBeouf allegedly punched a man named Jeffrey Damnit in the upper body before returning to strike a second individual, Nathan Thomas Reed, in the nose. He was subsequently booked on two counts of simple battery and released on his own recognizance on Tuesday afternoon.

The fallout from the arrest has intensified as both alleged victims now claim that LaBeouf directed homophobic slurs at them during the fight. Jeffrey Damnit, who was dressed in drag at the time, alleged that the actor attempted to attack him while screaming, ‘You’re a fing f*t’.

Damnit also provided cellphone footage that reportedly shows LaBeouf using the same slur while in the back of a vehicle. Nathan Thomas Reed, who identifies as queer, supported these claims and stated that he wanted it to be known that the actor was calling people f**t.

An initial police report reportedly mentioned a statement from LaBeouf where he claimed, These f*****s put me in jail, though this specific detail was absent from a later court filing. A police spokesperson noted that the matter remains an ongoing investigation that has to be adjudicated in court.

Despite the serious nature of the allegations, LaBeouf appeared unfazed shortly after his release. He was spotted on Bourbon Street wearing festive beads and told a local reporter that Mardi Gras is amazing. He later took to social media to post a brief message that simply said, Free me. His next court appearance is currently set for March 19 in New Orleans.

This legal trouble comes as LaBeouf continues to try to rebuild his professional standing. He recently starred in the boxing drama Salvable, which was released in May 2025, where he played a street boxer named Vince. He was also a part of Francis Ford Coppola’s ambitious film Megalopolis.

In addition to his film work, LaBeouf has been open about his personal journey and his recent conversion to Catholicism, which he says helped him find a new sense of peace. However, his career remains overshadowed by a 2020 lawsuit from former partner FKA Twigs involving allegations of abuse, which is still moving through the legal system.

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