Arrest videos reveal Shia LaBeouf racist rants

"I am deeply ashamed of my behaviour," says actor

by Jennie Kermode

Shia LaBeouf
Shia LaBeouf Photo: Marvin Lynchard/DoD News Features

"I am deeply ashamed of my behaviour and make no excuses for it," said Shia LaBeouf in a statement yesterday after videos emerged of him hurling racist abuse at police officers who arrested him in Savannah, Georgia, on Saturday. "I am certain that my actions warrant a very sincere apology to the arresting officers and I am grateful for their restraint."

LaBeouf, who plays the similarly troubled tennis star John McEnroe in Borg/McEnroe, which will be released later this year, was arrested when in Savannah to film scenes for The Peanut Butter Falcon. Body-cam footage of the arrest shows him asking a police officer for a cigarette and becoming aggressive when he was not given one. He told the black officer that he had a president and an employer who didn't care about him so he wanted to arrest white people who did care, and persistently used racist language. He was charged with disorderly conduct, public drunkenness and obstruction.

After reaching the police station, LaBeouf continued to shout out racist comments and told an officer he would go to Hell because of his black skin.

The actor has clashed with law enforcement on numerous occasions since his first arrest at the age of nine.

"I have been struggling publicly with addiction for far too long, and I am actively taking steps toward securing my sobriety," said the American Honey star, adding the he hopes he can be forgiven for his 'mistakes'.

Share this with others on...

Movies out this week include:

A Better Tomorrow Camp The Last Viking
News

Encouraging reel growth How Spanish/Greek co-production Yerma took root at the Evia Project

Age and urgency Daniel Talbott and Andrew Klaus-Vineyard on Welcome To Tool Shed

Little games Alicia Scherson on adapting Bolaño and making The Summer War

Without context Matt Eames on declining political discourse, life without social media, and Deepfake

Such a suff'ring Joe Fria on exploring his personal fears in Shadows Of Willow Cabin

Sacred and profane Hannah Peterson on adapting David Hornsby's Via Negativa

Suspicious minds Rebecca Zlotowski on building past lives and working with Jodie Foster on A Private Life

More news and features

Interact

Don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon and Bluesky.


It's a busy time for festivals and here's the latest:


Karlovy Vary Keitel, Hoffman and Binoche take the waters as second wave of guests announced


The Evia Project Event returns for a 5th year with focus on the forest


DocFest Winners announced


Tribeca Awards announced


Karlovy Vary 60th anniversary edition to feature Jesse Eisenberg and Maggie Gyllenhaal as guests