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...
News

New eyes on Old Hollywood How images of Bette Davis, Joan Crawford and Rita Hayworth inspired Pretty Babies

Lost Boys Wayne Wapeemukwa on drawing on reality for Manhunt while avoiding a true crime approach

Serious about comedy Louis Paxton on grounding the humour of The Incomer in darker elements

That shrinking feeling Shivek Gupta and Syed Shadan on the Mumbai housing market and Chaar Diwaari

A woman who didn't belong Anna Cazenave Cambet on working with Vicky Krieps in Love Me Tender

A dialogue of parchment and celluloid Jean-Jacques Annaud on Umberto Eco and The Name Of The Rose

More news and features

We're bringing you reviews and more from the Locarno Film Festival.



We're looking forward to the Edinburgh International Film Festival and Frightfest.



We've recently brought you coverage of the Fantasia International Film Festival, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, the Muslim International Film Festival, Docs Ireland, Sheffield DocFest, ImagineNative, Tribeca and Cannes.



Read our full for more.


Visit our festivals section.

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:


EIFF Gets back its mojo


Locarno Isabella Rossellini receives Excellence Award


London Jesse Eisenberg's The Debut to close festival


San Sebastian announces José Giovanni retrospective


Dinard Amira Casar to head jury, plus opening film announced