00:00Shia LaBeouf is facing escalating legal trouble in New Orleans
00:03following his Mardi Gras bar crawl,
00:05and the situation appears to be intensifying.
00:07The 39-year-old actor was arrested again
00:09and booked into Orleans Parish Jail on a battery charge
00:12just one day after a new arrest was issued
00:15in connection to his February 17th altercation at our bar.
00:18According to reports, the new warrant
00:20stems from an additional alleged victim
00:22tied to the original fight.
00:23LaBeouf had already been charged with two misdemeanor counts
00:26of simple battery after footage showed him yelling gay slurs
00:29throwing punches and headbutting one man
00:32who reportedly suffered a possibly dislocated nose.
00:35Even after police arrived,
00:36authorities say he continued shouting slurs,
00:39allegedly saying,
00:39these put me in jail, I'm a Catholic.
00:42He had previously been released on a $100,000 bond,
00:45but Judge Simone Levine expressed concern
00:47that LaBeouf was not taking his alcohol issues seriously,
00:50ordering him to attend substance abuse treatment,
00:53undergo drug testing,
00:54and post bond as conditions of release.
00:56She also denied his request to travel to Rome
00:58for religious observances,
01:00citing concerns for community safety,
01:02particularly the marginalized LGBTQ plus community.
01:05In his first interview since the arrest
01:07with YouTuber Andrew Callahan,
01:09LaBeouf attempted to explain his behavior.
01:12I'll be honest with you,
01:12big gay people are scary to me.
01:15What do you mean?
01:16When I'm like standing by myself
01:18and three gay dudes are next to me,
01:20touching my leg, I get scared.
01:22Mm-hmm.
01:23I'm sorry.
01:25If that's homophobic, then I'm that.
01:28He admitted he was wrong for touching anyone ever,
01:31but insisted he does not believe he has a drinking problem.
01:33Instead, he described having a small man complex,
01:36saying his anger and ego, not alcohol,
01:39were at the root of the incident.
01:40Despite the court order,
01:42insiders claim LaBeouf does not believe he needs rehab.
01:44One legal source described the mandate as celebrity punishment,
01:48suggesting it may amount to little more than checking into an online program.
01:51Sources close to the actor paint a troubling picture.
01:54Some have labeled him a master manipulator,
01:57alleging he is adept at portraying himself as someone in recovery,
02:00while failing to address deeper issues.
02:02One long-time source warned that if he does not get sober,
02:05the trajectory could lead to a tragic ending.
02:07The arrest comes amid ongoing personal turmoil.
02:10LaBeouf and his estranged wife Mia Goth quietly separated nearly a year ago.
02:15Sources told TMZ he tried everything to save the marriage,
02:18including embracing religion and taking vacations,
02:20and that he cares deeply for their three-year-old daughter, Isabel.
02:23However, insiders close to Goth claim his alleged drinking problem
02:27contributed to the split,
02:28and that she no longer believes he is capable of meaningful change.
02:32LaBeouf's history of legal issues stretches back years,
02:34including past arrests in New York and Georgia.
02:37He has previously spoken about being in recovery,
02:39and once claimed to be more than 600 days sober.
02:42He also settled a lawsuit last year with singer FKA Twigs,
02:46who has accused him of sexual battery, assault, and emotional distress,
02:50allegations he denied.
02:51A joint statement said they wished each other personal happiness,
02:55professional success, and peace.
02:57Now, with multiple charges pending and questions swirling about accountability and sobriety,
03:01LaBeouf is set to return to court March 19th.
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