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'.

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