Shia LaBeouf Arrested After New Orleans Bar Fight During Mardi Gras

Shia LaBeouf was released from custody in New Orleans on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, following an arrest stemming from an altercation during his extended Mardi Gras celebrations. The actor and filmmaker was taken into custody shortly after midnight after allegedly fighting with two men, according to the New Orleans Police Department.

The incident occurred at R Bar in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood, a local favorite co-owned by Greg Dulli, frontman for the indie band The Afghan Whigs. Police were called to the bar after reports that LaBeouf was causing a disturbance and becoming increasingly aggressive. Initial reports, first noted by TMZ, indicated a confrontation with bar staff attempting to remove him from the premises.

According to the police report, after being asked to leave R Bar, LaBeouf allegedly struck one man multiple times with closed fists. He then briefly left the area before returning and allegedly resuming the assault on the same individual, as a crowd of onlookers watched. He also allegedly punched another person in the nose before being subdued by bystanders until police arrived.

LaBeouf was subsequently taken to a local hospital for evaluation of unspecified injuries and, following his release, was formally arrested and charged with two counts of simple battery. He appeared before Judge Simone Levine at the Magistrate Division of Orleans Parish Criminal Court for a virtual hearing and was released on his own recognizance, with a requirement to attend all future court dates. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 19.

The arrest follows reports of LaBeouf’s multi-day presence at various New Orleans bars during Mardi Gras. Employees at several establishments described the actor as “inebriated” and “belligerent” during his visits. One doorman at Ms Mae’s bar recounted an incident where LaBeouf reportedly asked, “Do you know who I am?” after being asked to leave when attempting to act as a celebrity bartender. Another bartender described LaBeouf as “terrorizing the city.”

This incident arrives after LaBeouf recently stated he had achieved sobriety and attributed past problematic behavior to struggles with alcoholism. In a May 2025 interview with The Hollywood Reporter alongside director David Mamet, LaBeouf reflected on past psychological challenges, describing himself as a “narcissist” and acknowledging a level of “ego sickness” inherent in the acting profession. He expressed a desire to find a “healthy version” of that ego.

During that same interview, LaBeouf referred to himself as a “pure actor,” explaining that in his youth he believed he required little guidance, exhibiting a “lack of trust” in mentors. He acknowledged a past tendency towards narcissism and fear.

LaBeouf’s recent work includes the independently released film Henry Johnson, Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis (2024), Padre Pio (2022), and Pieces of a Woman (2020). He first gained prominence through the Disney Channel series Even Stevens and later starred in the Transformers franchise, as well as films like Disturbia, Eagle Eye, and Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.

TMZ released video footage on Tuesday afternoon, reportedly taken before police arrived at R Bar, showing LaBeouf on the ground while being struck repeatedly in the face. The video depicts onlookers urging him to “chill” and “cut that shit out.”