Actor Shia LaBeouf was arrested early Tuesday in New Orleans for alleged battery, following a weekend of reportedly heavy partying during Mardi Gras.
The New Orleans Police Department confirmed that at around 12.45am, officers responded to a call at Faubourg Marigny, adjacent to the French Quarter, where LaBeouf was reportedly becoming increasingly aggressive at the Royal Street Inn and Bar.
According to court documents, the bar manager attempted to escort LaBeouf out, during which the actor allegedly tried to strike him. After being removed, LaBeouf is accused of punching a male patron who intervened, then returning to hit another man in the nose.
Bystanders reportedly held LaBeouf down until police arrived. He was taken to a hospital, later discharged, arrested, and charged with two counts of simple battery. He was released on his own recognizance the same day, coinciding with the peak of New Orleans’ Mardi Gras celebrations. Reports indicate that LaBeouf was later seen on Bourbon Street, dancing with his release papers in his mouth.
His next court appearance is tentatively scheduled for 19 March. Thousands gathered around the Royal Street Inn and Bar following the incident, with staff confirming that LaBeouf would not be welcomed back after his release.
TMZ published a video allegedly showing LaBeouf shirtless and arguing with another person early Tuesday morning before paramedics attended to him. Other reports noted his unruly behaviour across New Orleans in the days leading up to his arrest. Robert Skuse, a doorman at local bar Ms Mae’s, told the Hollywood Reporter that LaBeouf arrived in a “somewhat belligerent state,” attempting to get behind the bar and serve drinks, while also asking “Do you know who I am?”
LaBeouf has publicly discussed his struggles with sobriety, crediting actors Mel Gibson, Sean Penn, and Josh Brolin for their support. He previously attended court-mandated rehab following a 2017 arrest in Savannah, Georgia, an experience that inspired his semi-autobiographical film Honey Boy.
In 2020, English singer FKA twigs (Tahliah Barnett) sued LaBeouf for sexual battery, assault, and emotional distress, alleging a pattern of abuse during their relationship from 2018 to 2019. The lawsuit claimed LaBeouf knowingly exposed her to a sexually transmitted infection, attempted to strangle her, and slammed her against a car. LaBeouf denied the allegations, and the case was settled in July 2025.
LaBeouf’s representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
