Actor Shia LaBeouf's raucous Mardi Gras episode in New Orleans earlier this month has 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 city's famed French Quarter. He was charged with two counts of simple assault, the Associated Press reported.
“Transformers” and “Honey Boy” actor LaBeouf agreed to updated terms of his release, including posting $100,000 bail, and submitted to a drug test during his court appearance Thursday. His lawyer said the test showed no illegal substances in the actor's system.
Orleans Parish Criminal Court Judge Simone Levine criticized LaBeouf for his behavior during Mardi Gras celebrations. In addition to punching the two men in a bar, LaBeouf allegedly yelled homophobic slurs. Levine expressed concern for “the safety of this community at large” and said LaBeouf “does not take his alcohol addiction seriously.”
A legal representative for LaBeouf did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but said during the actor's court appearance that “being drunk at Mardi Gras is not a crime.”
The actor has not yet formally pleaded guilty 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 “Even Stevens” child star was “causing a disturbance” at the business, prompting staff to remove him from the premises, police said. The actor allegedly “used closed fists” on one of the victims “several times.”
Authorities said LaBeouf left the business but returned, “acting even more aggressive.” According to the incident report, an unspecified number of people attempted to subdue him and eventually let him go “in the hopes that he would leave.” Instead, police said, LaBeouf began assaulting the same man as before, hitting him in the upper body with closed fists. The actor is accused of punching the second man in the nose.
People held 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 artist as one of LaBeouf's alleged victims. The “Megalopolis” actor, whose history of violent behavior has led to previous arrests and other legal problems, allegedly threatened the man's life and shouted homophobic slurs.
Levine ordered that LaBeouf refrain from contacting the two victims and from visiting the bar at the center of the fight. She also denied his travel requests.
Hours after news of the fight and his arrest spread, LaBeouf issued a brief statement on social media.
He published in X: “Libérame”.
