Shia LaBeouf Speaks Out Following Mardi Gras Arrest Incident

Shia LaBeouf is breaking his silence following his arrest related to an alleged incident in New Orleans.

On Wednesday, February 18, LaBeouf, 39, took to X to post, “Free me.”

Reports surfaced on Tuesday, February 17, indicating that LaBeouf was involved in a physical altercation, prompting paramedics to be dispatched. Us Weekly has confirmed that LaBeouf is facing two counts of simple battery, with a pretrial hearing scheduled for March 19.

Since 2014, LaBeouf has faced multiple legal challenges. Shortly after departing from Olivia Wilde‘s film Don’t Worry Darling in 2020, he was accused of “relentless abuse” by his ex-girlfriend FKA Twigs.

In her December 2020 lawsuit, Twigs, 38, claimed she endured sexual battery, assault, and emotional distress during her relationship with LaBeouf, which lasted from 2018 to 2019.

LaBeouf responded in a statement to The New York Times, stating that “many of these allegations are not true,” while also accepting “accountability” for his actions, revealing his participation in a 12-step program and therapy.

“I’m not in any position to dictate how my behavior affected them. I have no excuses for my alcoholism or aggression, only rationalizations. For years, I’ve been abusive to myself and to those around me,” he conveyed to NYT. “I have a history of hurting those closest to me. I’m ashamed of that past and apologize to those I’ve harmed. There’s not much else I can say.”

In a 2022 interview with Bishop Robert Barron, LaBeouf shared that preparing for the role of a Catholic saint in the film Padre Pio prompted him to focus on his mental health. “But I was also driven by a deep desire to hold on,” he said about discovering his faith while researching the role. “The reach-out had occurred. I was already there; I had no other direction to go. This was my last stop. No other options existed — in every sense.”

He elaborated: “I now realize that God was using my ego to bring me to Him, steering me away from worldly desires. It was all happening simultaneously. However, there would have been no motivation for me to drive to [the monastery] if I hadn’t thought, ‘Oh, I’ll save my career.’”

LaBeouf directly addressed “the woman who accused” him, expressing, “I wanted to take to Twitter and defend myself, to provide justification. Now, I can see that — the woman saved my life. She is, in my eyes, a saint. She saved my life. This shift in perspective feels miraculous.”

At that time, LaBeouf reflected on how “nobody” wanted to engage with him amid his controversies — “not even my mother.”

“At this stage, I’m toxic. … The manager isn’t calling. The agent isn’t getting in touch. I’m disconnected from the industry,” he stated. “I had a gun on the table. I was done. I wanted to end it all when all this transpired. I felt a shame unlike any I had ever known — the type that makes you forget how to breathe. You don’t know where to turn. You can’t even step outside for a taco.”

Us reported in July 2025 that Twigs had withdrawn her lawsuit against LaBeouf.

In the aftermath of his Mardi Gras arrest on Tuesday, various outlets indicated that LaBeouf and actress Mia Goth ended their relationship last year. The couple welcomed their first child in 2022.

If you or someone you know is experiencing struggles or crises, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.