Shia LaBeouf broke his silence Wednesday morning with a succinct message on X following his arrest during a wild Mardi Gras bar crawl in New Orleans. The actor posted “free me” on the social media platform. It came just one day after being taken into custody on two counts of simple battery. While LaBeouf is no longer behind bars, he now faces a pretrial hearing scheduled for March 19.
Shia LaBeouf tweets after arrest
LaBeouf’s two-word post came as new videos began circulating on social media showing the actor’s behavior immediately following his release. Local news station WGNO captured footage of Shia LaBeouf dancing on Bourbon Street while holding his jail release paperwork in his mouth.
According to the New Orleans Police Department, the trouble started early Tuesday morning when LaBeouf was asked to leave a Royal Street establishment. A staff member attempted to eject him from the premises, and that’s when witnesses say things escalated. “The victim reported being struck by LaBeouf, who used his closed fists on the victim several times,” the NOPD said in a statement obtained by Variety.
Furthermore, the police report paints a chaotic picture of the encounter. After initially leaving, LaBeouf allegedly returned to the bar acting “even more aggressive” as a small crowd gathered to watch. Multiple onlookers attempted to physically restrain him but eventually let go, according to police, “in hopes that he would leave.”
Instead, authorities say LaBeouf resumed hitting the same man he’d punched earlier before allegedly striking another individual in the nose. Bystanders held him down a second time until officers arrived at the scene.
The arrest comes at a time when LaBeouf has recently spoken publicly about maintaining sobriety. Even spoke about taking accountability for past abusive behavior. In a May 2025 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, LaBeouf reflected on his psychological struggles, repeatedly describing himself as “a narcissist” and “a pure actor.”
Multiple drinking establishment employees told reporters that LaBeouf had been on an extended weekend bar crawl through New Orleans’ Uptown neighborhood during Mardi Gras festivities.
