Shia LaBeouf accused of using homophobic slurs before battery arrest
Shia LaBeouf has been accused of hurling homophobic slurs at the alleged victims of his recent battery arrest. (Getty)
Transformers star Shia LaBeouf has been accused of hurling homophobic slurs at two men prior to being arrested for allegedly battering them.
LaBeouf, 39, was arrested by police in New Orleans in the early hours of Tuesday morning (17 February) and charged with two counts of simple battery, after being captured on video erratically confronting a man outside a bar during the city’s Mardi Gras celebrations.
The BAFTA-winning actor was released based on a signed agreement to appear at all future court dates, before a court appearance on Mardi Gras Day, 17 February. The American actor was later seen back out on the streets of New Orleans on the evening of Mardi Gras, telling a reporter: “Mardi Gras is amazing.”
Jeffrey Damnit was one of the victims logged in the New Orleans police report. The actor and writer, born Jeffrey Klein, had spent the evening dressed in drag, and has alleged that Shia LaBeouf spewed homophobic slurs his way during their confrontation.
Speaking to news channel Fox 8, Damnit explained that he was celebrating Mardi Gras at a bar on Royal Street in the Louisiana city, before a man approached the bar just before midnight “acting erratically”.
The man, later acknowledged as LeBeouf by his distinctive hand tattoos, allegedly “got his finger in [Damnit’s] face” before walking away, and later returning just after midnight.
Police officers were called to attend to a man “causing a disturbance and becoming increasingly aggressive”. Court documents allege that the Even Stevens star had attempted to punch the manager of the bar Damnit was in. After Damnit assisted the bar manager in having the actor removed, LeBeouf allegedly struck Damnit on the torso.
“He kept rushing towards everybody. At one point he rushes up and hits me on the body, knocks me back a little,” Damnit told Fox 8.
The Guardian has seen video footage which they claim appears to show the actor calling Damnit, who was wearing makeup, “a f****** f*****”, while in the back of a car being seen to by officials.
Damnit told the publication that LeBeouf had “tried to beat him up” while “screaming: ‘You’re a f****** f*****’.”
The publication reports that Damnit is heard in the video telling LeBeouf: “Keep on calling me f*****.”
The second man listed as a victim by New Orleans police, Nathan Thomas Reed, told The Guardian that LeBeouf had been “calling people f*****”.
Video footage of the incident circulated online appears to show LeBeouf telling first responders that he “didn’t touch nobody”.
Separate video footage seems to capture Damnit refusing to allow LeBeouf back into the bar, with the actor pushing him in response. The clip then cuts to Damnit holding him to the floor.
A preliminary report obtained by The Guardian indicated that LeBeouf had punched Reed in the nose, with local police alleging that the actor had called the two victims “f*****”.
The report claims LaBeouf said: “These f****** put me in jail – I’m a Catholic.”
During his conversation with Fox 8, Damnit urged for LaBeouf to be charged with a hate crime.
“I mean, it’s a hate crime right? You’re beating people up because somewhere in your mind their sexuality goes against what you think should get to live,” he said.
In a statement provided to the publication, police declined to comment on the allegations of homophobia, saying: “This remains an ongoing investigation that has to be adjudicated in court. Should additional information become available for release, we will provide an update accordingly.”
LaBeouf’s next hearing at New Orleans’ criminal court has been tentatively scheduled for March 19.
PinkNews has contacted a representative for LaBeouf for comment.
