Shia LaBeouf is a talented and troubled guy. In addition to bad-behavior rumors on set, he has had a sordid life involving multiple arrests and lawsuits for violent or reckless behavior. Since his last run-in in Georgie last summer, Shia went to counseling and got sober. Currently promoting Borg vs. McEnroe, Shia is ready to talk about his past struggles and take responsibility for his actions. You know I’ve never been a big Shia fan, but I have to say, this is a much different person than I’ve been reading about for years.
Shia LaBeouf has done a lot of soul searching in the last eight months.
In July 2017, the 31-year-old actor was arrested in Savannah, Ga., for disorderly conduct, obstruction and public drunkenness.
But that wasn’t the worst of it. LaBeouf belittled a black officer for being “stuck in a police force that doesn’t give a f–k ’bout you.” Speaking about his latest arrest for the first time in Esquire’s April 2018 issue, he says, “What went on in Georgia was mortifying. White privilege and desperation and disaster…It came from a place of self-centered delusion…It was me trying to absolve myself of guilt for getting arrested.” In short, LaBeouf admits, “I f–ked up.”
The morning after he was released from jail, LaBeouf attended a party for the cast and crew of The Peanut Butter Falcon-and no one mentioned the incident. “Everybody was pussyfooting around it,” he recalls-except for his co-star, Zachary Gottsagen, an up-and-coming 32-year-old actor. LaBeouf estimates they discussed his bad behavior for 20 minutes. At one point, he recalls Gottsagen telling him, “You’re already famous. This is my chance. And you’re ruining it.'”
Not everyone has been so willing to give LaBeouf a second chance, however.
“I’m run out. No one’s giving me a shot right now. Spike Lee is making a movie. I was talking to him about it,” he says. “He goes to the money and pushes to try to get me in the movie, the money says no, and that’s the end of me hanging out with Spike Lee for this film.”
LaBeouf didn’t ever think he’d be in such a position. After all, by 2011, the actor’s franchise films with directors Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg had grossed over $4 billion. “Michael and Steven did a lot for me,” LaBeouf says. “I’m not going to pooh-pooh those dudes anymore.”
But starring in the Indiana Jones and Transformers franchises wasn’t very fulfilling, and by age 25, LaBeouf felt as if her were “living in a gilded cage. No one gives a f–k about your problems.” LaBeouf says his films with Bay and Spielberg “felt irrelevant” in the grand scheme of things.
“It’s very hard to keep doing what you’re doing when you feel like it’s the antithesis of your purpose on this planet.”
LaBeouf knows he has a long road ahead of him. “I’m a buffoon. My public outbursts are failures. They’re not strategic. They’re a struggling motherf–ker showing his ass in front of the world,” he says. “I’ve got to look at my failures in the face for a while. I need to take ownership of my s–t and clean up my side of the street a bit before I can go out there and work again, so I’m trying to stay creative and learn from my mistakes. I’ve been falling forward for a long time. Most of my life.” Taking ownership, he admits, “The truth is, in my desperation, I lost the plot.”
As part of his court-mandated treatment last fall, LaBeouf-who is now sober-underwent prolonged-exposure therapy. “A lot of my s–t has to do with my relationship with my dad,” he says. “That dude is my gasoline.” To his credit, his dad is “the whole reason I became an actor.”
Considering his bad boy reputation, LaBeouf is wary of his public image. “I went to sleep last night thinking that this is going to be some boo-hoo piece: ‘Oh, here he is not trying to own his s–t. He’s trying to put it on his father…'” he says. “My dad handed me a lot, and his legacy was an emotional one. And it wasn’t scarring. He handed me texture. My dad blessed me that way.”
[From E! with quotes from Esquire]
This sounds like someone who really has examined his own behavior. I’m impressed that he’s accepted he needs to earn another chance after all the bridges he’s burned. I didn’t intend to read the full Esquire article but I couldn’t stop. Just a few thoughts: I understand what he’s saying about no one caring about your problems when you are on top. Like somehow making a lot of money means you are not allowed to be dissatisfied with the work you did to earn it. Also, I don’t think this comes off as a “boo-hoo piece,” I think Shia understands many of his issues stem from his relationship with his father but that the havoc he created because of those issues are all on him. You can’t treat the illness until you find its source. I think it’s a very valuable revelation and one not many come to. I never thought I’d say this but I’m pulling for Shia. I hope he continues on this path.
Photo credit: Esquire and WENN Photos
I’ve liked him as an actor ever since I saw him in American Honey. He did a good job of playing McEnroe too. Having him play the Super Brat seemed apt. I hope he reaches his full potential and doesn’t blow it through addiction or stupidity
For those of us familiar with mental illness by way of close friends or family, we know what this is. It’s easier and less stigmatizing for a young actor to blame his woes on alcohol or substance abuse rather than mental illness. That’s why it’s unfortunate that Shia doesn’t address what’s really at the heart of the fluctuating chaos that takes hold of him every other year.
I don’t know if it’s bipolarism, or some kind of psychosis- but I believe he has it. I think the public, and his industry would be more forgiving if he came out about what I think is his mental illness.
I saw this up close and personal with a relative who would have long periods of lucidity and normalcy, only to stop taking her medication because of perceived lethargy or weight gain or whatever – she’d be fine for a while, but when the meds were mostly out of her system, those around her would watch her illness return like clockwork.
It looked a lot like Shia’s episodes. For anyone who happened to see his behavior captured on tape, it’s more than apparent that it’s not alcohol, or any oind of suppressant. He’s quite alert, even quick and agile (I recall one clip in which he chased someone around a car) he’s just out of his mind.
He’d be a great spokesperson and I think he’d also have a better chance at the career his talent deserves. But I get why he’d rather say it’s a drinking problem. I feel for the guy.
I’m holding out for Shia. He’s an absolute mess, but he seems to at least be trying. I’m not excusing all of his terrible behavior, but I hope that being able to reflect on the issues is a good sign that he’s going to get his shit together. I grew up watching Even Stevens, so I’ll always have a soft spot for him. And he was great in Lawless. He really is a talented guy – but he’s such a mess. So here’s hoping he’ll really start to work on himself.
Same.
+1
I’ve been pulling for him, too, for some reason. He doesn’t deserve it, probably, but I’m pretty sure he’s (likely) bipolar and an alcoholic on top of being a former child star — it’s a lot. He’s done some bad things though. I tend to think mentally it would be better if he left Hollywood. He surely has lots of Transformers money?
Hope he’s able to stay sober. Met several people with alcohol issues and it seems to be really hard for them to stay sober. I feel for them. It seems to be a really hard struggle
There is a myth that hard partying make an artist “interesting”, but it’s really the opposite. I’ve seen people in AA absolutely catapult their originality , dropping the anoying ego, going to meetings and getting sober one day at a time.
I already like the co-star who called him out on his crap during the cast party. Too bad more people didn’t do the same — might have done him some good.
Yes me too!
I still feel like I’ve read most of this interview before…a few times. I hope he’s serious this time but it’s not that easy. If he can stay clean and out of trouble for another year or two he will have a shot. Maybe he could take some of the Transformer money and put up his own insurance bond. Even then it’s probably another decade from anyone taking a chance on him in a studio film.
Maybe he’s on the right track now…we will see.
Exactly. He did a similar mea culpa profile a few years ago.
yeah no, he doesn’t get a cookie for a little bit of self-reflection. if this came from a woman who had done a quarter of what he did, the pitchforks would be out or, worse, we would never hear from her again. but shia gets to go on redemption tour nr. 231 because of the tortured artist trope which still seeems to be very much reserved for men.
I didn’t have a problem with what he said to that Black Officer….I’ve always found him a compelling talent…so it will be good if he can stay in a space where he can work…be sane…yet still tap into that energy/intellect that motivates him…oh…and he keeps his hands…to himself…
It felt victim blame-y to me. Drunkenly calling out an officer of the law because he’s a poc is degrading. It’s Shia wanting to be ‘woke’ while getting arrested at the same time and it was cheap. Law enforcement is a profession, not a sentient being. It’s racist, corrupt cops who are the problem, not the job itself so that cop shouldn’t have been called out for choosing to follow the career path he wanted. Shia knew absolutely nothing about the cop other than that he was black and yet he went on to make assessments about him and his situation. That’s profiling.
Characterizing a person by their racial appearance is inherently racist, regardless of the intent. He knows he did wrong. That’s why he’s owning it.
Eh, what he said to that cop has some truth to it, but that’s another discussion. I grew up watching Disney, so I’ve liked him since Even Stevens & Holes. Hope he continues to work through his issues and can stick with his sobriety. He’s a good actor and he’s still young, so maybe he can get another shot like others before him who’ve been in the same place.
Enh. This guy was handed the world on a platter for no discernable reason and blew it all despite people really pulling for him. There wasn’t a single big franchise he wasn’t up for despite having unfortunate energy onscreen. I don’t wish him ill but I also don’t care about him. I hope he gets a career but it’s a different world out here and there are other people I’m invested in.
Got tired of him years ago when he plagiarized Daniel Clowes. There are scores and scores of talented people out there who could do more with a fraction of the chances he’s gotten. I feel awful about what happened to him during his art installation, but that doesn’t mean I care to see him on screen.
What about his alleged abuse of Mia Goth? Is he gonna address that or nah?
Disliked him since Project Greenlight. He was such an entitled shit even as a tween, no drugs involved. Doesn’t deserve a comeback and if he was truly self-aware he’d realize his privilege is the only reason he’s getting another chance.
What he said to the black officer may or may not have truth …..but that’s for the black officer to decide for himself, not Shia. I get very annoyed at people who think they have the right to proclaim how others actually or should feel. Stay in your own feelings lane, I’ll manage mine. But people do it all the time, drunk or sober.
But yes….S is an extraordinary talent, hard not to appreciate, and I wish him well.
Well, my black ass 💯% agree with what he said to that officer. Many of us have been saying the same thing for years!
I mean..I wouldn’t say it to a black police officer but I would probably be wondering about it, just like the way I wonder about women who work in the Trump administration. *shrugs*
Are you kidding? This article made you like him MORE? He sounds as narcissistic and full of navel gazing as ever. It reads like false humility.
This article popped up in my newsfeed yesterday and just like Hecate, I could not stop reading it. I absolutely recommend reading the full article. For one thing, he says his anger stems from his mother being raped. He was a child and in the apartment but could do nothing to stop it. The rapist was never caught. It is interesting to note, especially in this day and age of #metoo, how sexual violence can affect you even if it did not happen to you directly.
+1
I heard rumors about him physically abusing ex girlfriends, (Carey, Mia) so real contrition or not, I’m going to hold out full support in case this interview is performative. I understand mental illness controls behaviors of those under its grip, but there is no excuse for domestic violence.
This kid just disclosed his mom’s rape in order to get pity from the public for bad behavior. Fuck him. I have PTSD too from numerous actual rape attempts, molestation, stalking, being a goddamn woman in this world. Yet I’m not having public meltdowns and I don’t take my substance abuse issues out on those around me. I mean I drink too much but I don’t drive or have drunken tantrums. He’ll never change and I have ZERO sympathy.
@ PPP, I’m sorry for what you have had to go through. *Hugs*
For his sake, I hope he gets the help he needs and finds some peace. Nobody deserves to be that miserable, but man, white male privilege it is. A lot of people who weren’t him wouldn’t have those second chances. I hope he manages to get over himself in the process.
Knowing all we know about what happens to children in Hollywood who are unprotected his behavior isn’t exactly a surprise. I can’t think of many who haven’t exploded and crashed into themselves and self-destructed. He behaves like many of those who were sexually abused and full of rage. From Britney, Amanda, Lindsay Lohan, Corey Haim, Brad Renfro, The Different Strokes kids, Macauley Culkin, Demi, Nick Carter, Edward Furlong (I saw him once in the early 2000s at the gym, and he looked like an old man who has been ill), River Phoenix, scores of Disney and Nick kids, Bella Thorne , the guy who played in AI and the 6th Sense to many whose faces I recognize but not their names. Suicides and overdoses aren’t uncommon.
Everyone thought it was a curse of being famous too young and being overworked but we know Kevin Spacey is just one of many.
Something damaged him and I hope he can get a handle on it. Or he won’t and end up dead like some on my list did.
nailed it
His white male privilege will get him another chance. I’m not interested.
This is the most coherent and cohesive he’s ever been. I can’t believe he’s in his 30s now so yeah, it’s time to put the self-absorbed immature rebel in a coffin. I hope he means what he says and not offering lip service.
Even though he is at the top of the pyramid, white, male, privileged and rich, I always feel sorry for him. I do believe that he was sexually abused as a child and or young adult. Maybe by his father and or other men. I do see he has alot of pain in him.
Time will tell if this is real or not. He’s an actor. He’s had what, seven months or more to come up with this new version of himself? I think he learned the lingo in rehab and knows how to spout it.
That said, people really can change if they put in the effort, and I hope that the cynic in me is wrong about him. Even my very abusive father – who caused me to have PTSD in childhood, no less – became sober and changed a ton as a person over the last three decades. He still can be passive aggressive and trigger me when he wants to, but he hasn’t been physically abusive in 26 years or emotionally abusive in at least 8 years. He’s also incredibly supportive of my medical issues – and my being completely homebound – by giving me food each day; although, he needs to work on his narcissism because I was unable to have knee surgery due to his selfishness at times. There is hope, and if it is real, I wish Shia luck.
Such a good read. I hope he continues to keep it together because he’s truly talented.
I agree with you Hecate. I’m pulling for him too. Is is such a talented actor. I hope he continues on this healthy more positive path.
I hope he gets it together too, always thought he was talented and had so much charisma onscreen. Even in Disturbia, I was like dude is working with something lol. Too bad he let Carey go, they were such a cute couple, and I thought she grounded him a bit. They were probably just too young and she is definitley too good to be dealing with all the crap he would have put her through. Never heard that he’d been abusive to her, hope it’s not true.