Shia LaBeouf Arrested on Battery Charges During Mardi Gras in New Orleans

Shia LaBeouf was arrested early Tuesday after police said he was involved in a physical altercation during Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans. Authorities allege the actor struck two men following a disturbance at a business in the city’s French Quarter.

The arrest adds to a series of past legal troubles for LaBeouf, whose career has spanned from child stardom to major Hollywood productions. Police said the latest incident occurred during one of the busiest periods of the year in New Orleans, when Mardi Gras draws large crowds and heightened security across the city.

LaBeouf, 39, was charged with two counts of simple battery, according to a statement from the New Orleans Police Department. Officers were called to a business in the French Quarter at approximately 12:45 a.m. after reports that he was “causing a disturbance and becoming increasingly aggressive” inside the establishment. Authorities did not specify the type of business involved.

According to police, an employee attempted to remove LaBeouf from the premises. Once outside, he allegedly struck a man multiple times with closed fists. Witnesses told officers that LaBeouf left the area but later returned and continued acting aggressively.

Police said several individuals attempted to restrain him, releasing him in hopes that he would leave. The first man allegedly struck told officers he was hit again after LaBeouf returned. A second man reported being punched in the nose.

“He was held down until officers arrived,” the department said in its statement.

LaBeouf was transported to a hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries. After being discharged, he was arrested and taken into custody. Court and jail records did not list an attorney who could speak on his behalf. Emails sent to representatives for LaBeouf were not immediately returned.

Past legal issues

The Mardi Gras arrest follows previous encounters with law enforcement that have periodically interrupted the actor’s career.

In 2017, LaBeouf was arrested in New York on charges including public intoxication and disorderly conduct. Later that year, he was detained in Georgia while filming “The Peanut Butter Falcon” and faced charges including disorderly conduct and obstruction. He was subsequently sentenced to probation. In 2020, he was charged in Los Angeles with misdemeanor battery and petty theft.

That same year, English singer and actor FKA Twigs, whose legal name is Tahliah Barnett, filed a lawsuit accusing LaBeouf of physical and emotional abuse during their relationship. The case included allegations that he placed her in fear, assaulted her and knowingly transmitted a sexually transmitted disease. LaBeouf apologized publicly after the lawsuit was filed but denied the allegations in court filings. The parties later reached a settlement in July.

LaBeouf first gained national recognition as a teenager on the Disney Channel series Even Stevens. He later moved into leading roles in major film franchises, including the 2007 blockbuster Transformers and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

In recent years, LaBeouf has spoken publicly about personal struggles and efforts at rehabilitation. He shares a daughter, born in 2022, with actor Mia Goth.

Heightened security during Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras, the annual pre-Lenten celebration, is among the most heavily attended events in Louisiana and typically involves expanded policing in areas such as the French Quarter. The arrest occurred amid ongoing festivities that draw visitors from across the United States and abroad.

Authorities have not released further details about the alleged victims or whether additional charges could be considered. The investigation remains ongoing.

As of Tuesday, no court date had been publicly announced.