Shia LaBeouf is finally telling his side of the story. The 39-year-old actor, who was arrested during the wild Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans last week, sat down for a long conversation with journalist Andrew Callaghan. In the interview, he called his time behind bars “cute” and “fun,” while also admitting his behavior was “dirty, ugly, and disgusting.” The Transformers star was booked on battery charges after a fight outside a bar, and he is now facing fresh legal trouble after a second arrest this weekend.
The interview, which aired on February 28, 2026, on the Channel 5 YouTube show, gives the clearest picture yet of what happened that night. LaBeouf does not run from the truth. He owns up to his mistakes but also shares surprising details about his night in jail, the people he met there, and why he thinks anger—not alcohol—is his real problem .
The night everything went wrong during Mardi Gras
It all started in the early hours of February 17, 2026. Police were called to the 1400 block of Royal Street in New Orleans around 12:45 a.m. Reports said a man was causing trouble inside a business. That man was Shia LaBeouf. According to the New Orleans Police Department, staff tried to throw him out. Once outside, things turned physical .
Witnesses told police that LaBeouf punched one man several times with closed fists. He left the area but then came back and acted even more aggressive. Multiple people tried to hold him down. When they let him go, hoping he would walk away, he allegedly hit the same victim again. A second man said LaBeouf also punched him in the nose. Bystanders held the actor down until officers arrived .
LaBeouf was taken to a hospital for unknown injuries. After treatment, he was booked into Orleans Parish Prison on two counts of simple battery. He was released later that day. But the legal trouble did not end there. On February 27, a new warrant was issued. LaBeouf was arrested again on an additional battery charge connected to the same fight. He posted a $5,000 bond for this second arrest, separate from the $100,000 bond set earlier by a judge .
What Shia LaBeouf said about his time in jail
When Callaghan asked about the jail experience, Shia LaBeouf gave an answer that surprised many. He described it in simple, almost cheerful terms. “Oh, cute, like fun, like whatever, like stupid, like Mardi Gras,” he said .
He explained that the guards were nice to him. When he got cold, they gave him a blanket. It was crowded because of Fat Tuesday, but he did not seem to mind. “It was crowded, and then it got more crowded and more crowded, but that was fun. And then, it was pretty cute,” he told Callaghan .
LaBeouf also talked about the people inside with him. He said there were around 50 people in the “drug tank.” One person stood out. “He was a good guy,” LaBeouf said about a young Black man he believed was named William. They shared blankets and meals. “Usually when you get processed, you become friends with who you got processed with,” he explained. “It got quite intimate, actually” .
He also mentioned a funny moment about asking for coffee. “I was like, ‘Hey, let me get a coffee.’ They’re like, ‘Shut the f**k up, man. We don’t give you coffees out here’” .
Taking responsibility for “ugly” behavior
Shia LaBeouf did not make excuses for the fight. When asked what started it, he said, “I don’t know, bro,” and admitted it was probably his fault . He also spoke clearly about the consequences he now faces.
“I got to do whatever it is. I’ll do whatever it is. It was no good, bro. My behavior is dirty, ugly, disgusting. So, I got to eat it,” he said .
He also confirmed that he used a slur during the incident. “I said words not ok to say. I don’t want to hurt nobody’s feelings,” he stated. “I’m wrong for what I did” .
Controversial comments about gay men
The interview took a sharp turn when Shia LaBeouf explained what triggered him that night. He claimed three gay men were touching his leg, and it scared him. “Big gay people are scary to me,” he said. “When I’m standing by myself and three gay dudes are next to me, touching my leg, I get scared. I’m sorry. If that’s homophobic then I’m that” .
He later added, “I’m good with gay. Be gay over there, though. Don’t be gay in my lap” .
At the same time, he tried to clarify that he has never been against gay people. He claimed he once paid for someone’s transition surgery years ago. He also shared a personal family story. His paternal grandmother was a lesbian who married a man as a “beard” to hide her sexuality from the public. The family name was originally LeBoeuf, but his grandmother changed the spelling to distance herself from relatives who disowned her .
“I don’t have a drinking problem”
One of the biggest takeaways from the interview was Shia LaBeouf pushing back against the court order to attend rehab. A judge told him he must enter substance abuse treatment and take regular drug tests. LaBeouf is not happy about it .
“I don’t think I have a drinking problem,” he said flatly. “I think I have a different problem, and I’m going to address it.” He described that problem as a “small man complex,” also known as a Napoleon complex. “Something that has to do with anger and ego, more than my drinking” .
He also connected this to his childhood. “My dad was raped by his cousin. So, he was in my ear all the time,” LaBeouf revealed. He said this made him react badly whenever someone questioned his masculinity .
From jail to dancing in the streets
The days following the arrest were chaotic. After getting out of jail on February 17, Shia LaBeouf walked two miles back to the parade route. He bought a new shirt and sunglasses, drank beer, and chatted with fans. Videos show him dancing in the crowd with his blue-and-white jail release papers in his mouth .
But by Ash Wednesday, his mood shifted. He was spotted going for a shirtless run in a local park. Then he tried to visit two Catholic churches, St. Francis of Assisi and St. Stephen, but both were closed. He ended up eating alone at a Mediterranean restaurant called Saj. It was a quiet end to a wild 48 hours .
LaBeouf had been confirmed into the Catholic Church on New Year’s Eve 2023 after finding faith while preparing for his role in the 2022 film Padre Pio. He had even spoken about becoming a deacon one day .
What happens next legally
Shia LaBeouf is scheduled to appear in a New Orleans court on March 19, 2026. The judge’s orders remain in place. He must attend rehab, submit to drug and alcohol testing, and stay away from the bar where the fight happened. He is also banned from contacting any of the victims .
The new battery charge from February 27 adds more pressure. If convicted, he could face additional penalties. For now, the actor remains free on bond, living in New Orleans where he moved after the Los Angeles wildfires in January 2025. He said he relocated to be closer to family .
His personal life has also seen big changes. He and wife Mia Goth quietly split nearly a year ago. They share a daughter, Isabel, who turns four in March 2026. LaBeouf admitted, “I failed my marriage. That’s why I moved out here”.
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The bottom line
Shia LaBeouf is not hiding from what happened during Mardi Gras. In his own words, the jail time was “pretty cute” and even “fun” because of the people he met. But he also calls his actions ugly and wrong. He says he will face whatever punishment comes his way. Whether fans believe his explanation about what triggered the fight or not, one thing is clear: LaBeouf is once again in the spotlight, and his legal battle is far from over.
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Stay with VvipTimes for the latest updates on this story as new court dates approach and more details emerge from New Orleans.
