Actor Shia LaBeouf was arrested in New Orleans early Tuesday following an alleged altercation outside a Royal Street business during Mardi Gras festivities, according to local police. Authorities said the incident unfolded after the 39-year-old actor was removed from the establishment for reportedly causing a disturbance.
In a statement, the New Orleans Police Department said the situation escalated shortly after LaBeouf was escorted out of the venue. Investigators reported that one victim told officers the actor struck him multiple times with a closed fist. The police account further noted that LaBeouf initially left the scene but returned moments later displaying what witnesses described as increasingly aggressive behavior.
According to the police report, several bystanders intervened and attempted to restrain the actor, eventually releasing him so he could leave. However, officers allege that LaBeouf again struck the same victim in the upper body. Authorities also said he allegedly assaulted another individual, punching the person in the nose before being subdued once more by people at the scene.
Police confirmed that LaBeouf was taken to a hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries before being formally arrested. Court records show he has been charged with two counts of simple battery. Officials have not yet clarified what may have triggered the confrontation, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Representatives for the actor did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the arrest. The latest legal issues add to a series of past controversies involving the film star. In 2020, British singer FKA Twigs filed a lawsuit accusing LaBeouf of abuse, including allegations of choking and knowingly transmitting a sexually transmitted disease. That case was later settled out of court after the singer withdrew the complaint with prejudice.
At the time of the lawsuit, LaBeouf publicly acknowledged struggles with alcoholism and aggression, saying he had harmed both himself and people close to him. He expressed remorse for his past behavior and said he was seeking help.
The actor has faced other legal troubles over the years. In 2017, he was arrested in Georgia on suspicion of public drunkenness and later pleaded guilty to obstruction, receiving probation. Authorities eventually dropped the public drunkenness allegation, and LaBeouf later issued an apology, citing addiction as a contributing factor.
Earlier, in 2014, LaBeouf was charged with disorderly conduct, criminal trespass and harassment after disrupting a Broadway performance, a case in which he also entered a guilty plea.
The New Orleans incident marks the latest development in the actor’s legal history. Police have not indicated whether additional charges could follow as the investigation continues.
