Shia LaBeouf Says He's 'Not Into' Returning to Rehab: 'I Don't Think I Have a Drinking Problem'
- Kris Avalon
- Mar 1
- 2 min read
Shia LaBeouf is sharing his side of his arrest story.
via: People
Shia LaBeouf has spoken out about his Feb. 17 arrest, saying he doesn’t think he has a “drinking problem.”
The 39-year-old actor sat down for an interview with Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan, posted on YouTube on Saturday, Feb. 28. During the discussion, LaBeouf said that while he doesn’t condone the personal behavior that led to his Feb. 17 arrest in New Orleans during a Mardi Gras celebration, he also doesn’t believe that rehab is the answer for him.
“My behavior [was] bulls---. I gotta deal with that,” he said. “Does that mean I gotta go to rehab again? I’m just not into it. I don’t think my answers are there. I just don’t … I genuinely don’t. If I genuinely did, I’d go.”
The Transformers star went on to say that he thinks his problems are more rooted in anger issues than alcohol.
“I don’t think I have a drinking problem,” he said. “I think I have a different problem, and I’m gonna address it … I think I have a small man complex. I think it’s something that has to do with anger and ego more than my drinking.”
“That’s where I’m at now on my journey, and I’m trying to navigate it. I’ll figure it out,” he added.
Earlier in the conversation, the actor shared that he has not been sober in about nine months. He also said that the incident that led to his New Orleans arrest was “on me.”
LaBeouf’s reps did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
During the Feb. 17 arrest, LaBeouf was taken into custody on two counts of misdemeanor battery following an alleged altercation at Royal Street Inn & R Bar during Mardi Gras festivities.
An initial police report obtained by PEOPLE states that one alleged victim was struck “in his face with a closed fist causing his nose to possibly dislocate” and said he “pushed his nose back into place” himself.
The report further alleges that LaBeouf “used the word ‘f----t’ " multiple times.
The actor was ultimately ordered to enroll in substance abuse treatment, undergo drug testing and post a $100,000 bond as conditions of his release.
LaBeouf was arrested in New Orleans for a second time on Saturday, Feb. 28, after he was charged with an additional count of simple battery, according to the Associated Press and The Guardian.
The new charge is in relation to the Feb. 17 incident, according to The Guardian.
A warrant was issued for his arrest on the new charge on Friday, Feb. 27. The actor surrendered himself to authorities on Saturday, prior to a bail hearing. He posted a bond of $5,000 and was released from police custody, per The Guardian.
LaBeouf’s reps and the New Orleans Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on his latest arrest.
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