In an interview with Channel 5’s Andrew Callaghan, actor Shia LaBeouf opened up about his recent arrest during Mardi Gras in New Orleans, his relationship with faith, and his ongoing struggles with recovery.
LaBeouf began by taking full ownership of his actions during the Mardi Gras incident. “I’ve been having a time of my life. You know, I got some contrition on my heart. It’s not nice to hurt people ever. People got hurt. I got to deal with that. I’mma deal with that in full. I’ll eat it all. It was on me. It’s not on them. It’s on me,” he stated.
The former Even Stevens star faces two misdemeanor battery charges, with the possibility of h*te cr*me charges being added. When asked about potential penalties, he remained matter-of-fact: “I got to do whatever it is. I’ll do whatever it is. It was no good, bro. My behavior is dirty, ugly, disgusting.”
The conversation revealed that LaBeouf had relocated to New Orleans following the Pasadena fires and personal heartbreak. His father, a Vietnam veteran suffering from Agent Orange exposure, needed to evacuate Los Angeles, prompting the family’s move to a city where their Cajun roots run deep.
His time in Orleans Parish Prison proved relatively uneventful. “I went in there. I was like, ‘Uh, hey, let me get a coffee.’ They’re like, ‘Shut the f**k up, man. We don’t give you coffees out here,'” he recalled.
With approximately 50 people in the holding area on Fat Tuesday, LaBeouf shared a blanket with another detainee and formed a brief bond with a man he believes was named William. Despite his celebrity status, he reported that other inmates treated him respectfully.
During the interview, LaBeouf also discussed his relationship with recovery programs. He revealed he had maintained approximately nine months of traditional recovery before discovering kava, a Polynesian root drink.
“Kava was an acceptance of like I had heard people talk about California recovery and stuff like this,” he explained. This decision marked a turning point in his approach to wellness, one he now questions. “I don’t really know how to get to joy and run program like as rigid as they run it,” he admitted.
His critique of traditional recovery led him to discuss mysticism and joy. Reading from Catholic philosopher G.K. Chesterton, LaBeouf shared: “Mysticism keeps men sane. As long as you have mystery, you have health. When you destroy mystery, you create morbidity. The ordinary man has always been sane because the ordinary man has always been a mystic.” This passage, he suggested, encapsulates his current spiritual journey and his embrace of Mardi Gras as a sacred, existential experience rather than mere debauchery.
LaBeouf described himself as a “traditional Catholic” who found God through recovery programs but now questions their restrictions. “I’m a big God boy, you know, I’m a big and and I found God through program. So I don’t know. I’m on a circuitous path. My path isn’t over. I’m still in the middle of it, but I’m on the path,” he said. When asked what he would say if he met Jesus, LaBeouf replied simply: “I wouldn’t say nothing. I kiss him. I kiss his feet.”
The actor opened up about reaching his lowest point before finding faith. “I put a g*n in my mouth. I was ready to go,” he revealed, describing a moment when his mother and a phone call from someone in recovery saved his life. The caller’s seeming insensitivity made LaBeouf angry enough to postpone his plans, buying him the night he needed to reconsider. “Sometimes madness, rage will save you from really scary stuff,” he reflected.
On the subject of his Mardi Gras arrest, LaBeouf acknowledged what led to the altercation while being careful about legal implications. “I’m a Catholic, bro. You know what I mean? I said words not okay to say. I don’t want to hurt nobody’s feelings. That’s what I mean by being I’m a Catholic is I’m not supposed to be out here,” he stated.
When pressed about feeling threatened, he admitted: “I’m good with gay. Be gay over there though. Don’t be gay in my lap.” He also referenced his father’s trauma and acknowledged he might have internalized homophobia, though he insisted he has historically supported the LGBTQ community.
Regarding his relationship with ex-wife Mia Goth, LaBeouf spoke with evident respect and gratitude. “That’s a good girl. That’s one of the best girls that ever lived. She’s incredible,” he said.
Despite their divorce, he maintains regular contact with their three-year-old daughter, speaking with her twice daily. “She gives me grace. I still talk to my kid twice a day. She’s a good woman, bro,” he emphasized.
LaBeouf explained his decision to turn away from Hollywood, stating his current work feels more authentic and personally meaningful. He is preparing for a role that will require him to participate in the Angola Prison Rodeo, viewing the experience as essential to the craft.
