Shia LaBeouf has pleaded guilty to misdemeanour battery charges tied to an incident during Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
The 39-year-old entered his plea at a New Orleans courthouse on Wednesday, June 3, after a confrontation at a city bar on Feb 17 earlier this year.
According to The Guardian, LaBeouf’s lawyer, Sarah Chervinsky, argued the scrutiny around what happened had been overstated.
‘nothing more than a minor bar tussle’
‘bias’
LaBeouf, best known for Even Stevens and later work including Honey Boy, was initially booked on two counts of simple battery before a third battery charge was added several days later.
At a hearing held during the same month as the arrest, he was instructed to take part in substance abuse treatment, submit to strict drug testing, and post a $100,000 bond in order to be released.
The New Orleans Police Department described the alleged altercation in a statement released at the time.
“Once removed from the building, the victim reported being struck by LaBeouf who used his closed fists on the victim several times. The victims reported that LaBeouf left, but then came back, acting even more aggressive.”
Authorities said several people restrained the actor before letting him up, at which point he allegedly struck the same person again, NBC News reported.
Police also alleged he attacked another individual at the venue.
‘assaulted another person’
‘punching him in the nose’
The statement added that he was restrained again until officers arrived.
“LaBeouf was again held down until police arrived,” it added.
He was taken to hospital before being booked, with police noting he had suffered injuries.
‘unknown injuries’
Even as details of what led up to the confrontation remain disputed, the victim suggested the incident may have involved homophobia, with a police report alleging LaBeouf used a slur repeatedly.
‘used the word ‘f——t’’ multiple times.
After being released, LaBeouf returned to Mardi Gras celebrations and was seen among the crowds appearing to hold paperwork connected to his release.
Later that same day—Wednesday, Feb. 18—he also posted a brief message on social media.
“Free me.”
Following Wednesday’s court appearance, New Orleans parish judge Juana Marine-Lombard handed LaBeouf a six-month suspended sentence along with two years of probation.
He was also instructed to avoid contact with the three victims and to stay away from the bar.
The case adds to a series of legal problems the actor has faced in recent years, several of them linked to long-running struggles with alcohol and substance use.
Last year, the Transformers star spoke publicly about getting sober after being accused of abuse by his former partner FKA Twigs, who filed suit against him in 2020.
The matter was later settled out of court in 2025, and LaBeouf commented at the time that he’d been ‘abusive to myself and everyone around me for years’.
He added: “I have a history of hurting the people closest to me. I’m ashamed of that history and am sorry to those I hurt.
“I have no excuses for my alcoholism or aggression, only rationalizations… I am not cured of my PTSD and alcoholism, but I am committed to doing what I need to do to recover, and I will forever be sorry to the people that I may have harmed along the way.”