New Orleans’ Mardi Gras celebrations took a troubling turn for actor Shia LaBeouf, resulting in his arrest on two counts of misdemeanor battery. The incident, which occurred early Tuesday morning, has quickly become complicated by allegations of homophobic slurs leveled against two men, one of whom identifies as queer and the other as a drag performer.
According to statements provided to The Guardian by the alleged victims, Jeffrey Damnit (born Jeffrey Klein) and Nathan Thomas Reed, LaBeouf directed hateful language at them during the altercation. Damnit, who was wearing makeup at the time, claims LaBeouf attempted to assault him while shouting, “You’re a fucking faggot.” He shared a cellphone video purportedly showing LaBeouf uttering the slur from the back of a vehicle while being examined by first responders. Damnit is heard responding, “Keep on calling me faggot.” Reed corroborated Damnit’s account, stating he too was targeted with the slur.
Initial police reports also allege that LaBeouf was overheard saying, “These faggots put me in jail,” while referencing his Catholic faith. However, this detail was notably absent from the sworn police statement submitted to the court, a discrepancy that has raised concerns.
LaBeouf, 39, was released on his own recognizance following a court appearance. The arrest occurred at a bar in the Marigny neighborhood, adjacent to the French Quarter, after LaBeouf allegedly became aggressive with bar staff. Police reports indicate he initially attempted to punch a bar manager who was trying to remove him from the establishment. After being escorted outside, he allegedly struck Damnit, who was assisting the manager, and subsequently punched Reed in the nose.
Despite the serious allegations, LaBeouf was seen on Bourbon Street just hours after his release, appearing to participate in the ongoing Mardi Gras festivities. He was photographed dancing with beads around his neck and reportedly had his release papers in his mouth, telling a reporter from WAFB, a Baton Rouge news station, that Mardi Gras was “amazing” and praised the “interesting people” he had met. Later, he posted a cryptic message on X, simply stating, “Free me.”
The incident has sparked a wider conversation about accountability and the normalization of hateful language. Kyle DeVries, president of the New Orleans Pride Center, emphasized the precarious climate for the LGBTQ+ community and the potential impact of a celebrity using such language. “When you have someone with celebrity status attacking communities already so under attack, it could give others permission to do the same,” DeVries stated, calling for LaBeouf’s “peers in Hollywood” to hold him accountable.
Damnit, a Los Angeles-based actor, expressed concern that the initial police reports and statements downplayed the alleged use of homophobic slurs. His friend, criminal defense attorney Michael Kennedy, echoed this sentiment, stating that the omission “sends the wrong message that someone famous can come to our celebration and terrorize other attendees without meaningful consequence.”
LaBeouf’s move to New Orleans reportedly occurred after a split from his wife, actor and model Mia Goth, and a desire to be closer to family. Prior to the arrest, reports had surfaced of LaBeouf engaging in disruptive behavior throughout the city in the days leading up to Mardi Gras. The incident comes less than five months after LaBeouf settled a lawsuit with singer FKA twigs, which included allegations of sexual battery, assault, and emotional distress – allegations he denied.
LaBeouf has publicly discussed his struggles with sobriety and previously completed court-mandated rehab following a 2017 arrest in Savannah, Georgia. His next court hearing in New Orleans is scheduled for .
Damnit concluded by expressing his disappointment, stating that LaBeouf had “humiliated the acting profession” regardless of the outcome of the case. “I have a lot less credits than Shia LaBeouf,” he said, “But it is embarrassing for me to have a Hollywood actor show up and embarrass the entire entertainment industry.”
