Shia LaBeouf ordered to rehab after Mardi Gras arrest
Actor Shia LaBeoufβs raucous Mardi Gras episode in New Orleans earlier this month has now earned him court-ordered drug and alcohol treatment.
A New Orleans judge on Thursday ordered the former Disney Channel star, 39, to begin substance abuse treatment and undergo weekly drug testing after he was arrested on suspicion of assaulting two men in the cityβs famed French Quarter. He was charged with two counts of simple battery, the Associated Press reported.
βTransformersβ and βHoney Boyβ actor LaBeouf agreed to the updated terms of his release, including posting bond of $100,000, and underwent a drug test during his court appearance on Thursday. His attorney said the test did not show illegal substances in the actorβs system.
Orleans Parish Criminal Court judge Simone Levine criticized LaBeouf for his behavior during the Mardi Gras celebrations. In addition to striking the two men at a bar, LaBeouf allegedly yelled homophobic slurs. Levine expressed concern for βthe safety of this larger communityβ and said LaBeouf βdoes not take his alcohol addiction seriously.β
A legal representative for LaBeouf did not immediately respond to a request for comment but said during the actorβs court appearance that βbeing drunk on Mardi Gras is not a crime.β
The actor has yet to enter a formal plea to the charges.
The New Orleans Police Department said its officers responded to a report of an assault in the 1400 block of Royal Street. The former βEven Stevensβ child star was βcausing a disturbanceβ at the business, leading staff to remove him from the premises, police said. The actor allegedly βused his closed fistsβ on one of the victims βseveral times.β
Authorities said LaBeouf left the business but returned, βacting even more aggressive.β According to the incident report, an unspecified number of people tried to subdue him and eventually let him go βin hope that he would leave.β Instead, police said, LaBeouf began assaulting the same man as before, hitting his upper body with closed fists. The actor is accused of punching the second man in the nose.
People held down LaBeouf until officials arrived. He was transported to a hospital and treated for unknown injuries and was arrested and charged upon his release.
An additional police report identified a local entertainer as one of LaBeoufβs alleged victims. The βMegalopolisβ actor, whose history of violent behavior has led to previous arrests and other legal troubles, allegedly threatened the manβs life and shouted homophobic slurs.
Levine ordered that LaBeouf refrain from contacting the two victims and visiting the bar at the center of the brawl. She also denied his travel requests.
Hours after news of the brawl and his arrest spread, LaBeouf issued a brief statement on social media.
He posted to X: βFree me.β