Shia LaBeouf accused of homophobic hate crime by alleged assault victim
Actor Shia LaBeouf has been accused of a homophobic hate crime by a man that he allegedly assaulted in New Orleans.
LaBeouf was arrested on February 17th during Mardi Gras and is facing two charges of simple battery in connection with an alleged assault of two men.
In an initial statement, the New Orleans Police Department said: “A man identified as 39-year-old Shia LaBeouf was reportedly causing a disturbance and becoming increasing[ly] aggressive at a Royal Street business.”
The police added, “Once removed from the building, the victim reported being struck by LaBeouf, who used his closed fists on the victim several times.”
They also alleged that LaBeouf then left the scene before eventually he “came back, acting even more aggressive” and allegedly punched the same man, as well as another man’s nose.
Now, Jeffrey Damnit, real name Jeffrey Klein, has accused LaBeouf of using homophobic slurs before assaulting him at a bar on Royal Street in New Orleans, before the actor was arrested.
Per The Guardian, Dammit, who was wearing mascara, eye shadow and lipstick during the alleged incident, claimed that LaBeouf tried to attack him “while screaming, ‘You’re a fucking faggot’.”
Additionally, Nathan Thomas Reed, who is the other person named as a victim in the case, told the publication, “I want it to be known that he was calling people faggot.”
Dammit also told the Hollywood Reporter, “He was screaming at a bartender and had to be escorted outside. Once outside, he started pacing in the street, yelling, ‘You’re all a bunch of fucking faggots. I’ll kick your ass.”
Dammit stated that he “grabbed him and held him” in order to prevent LeBeouf from attacking the bartender, and claimed, “He wouldn’t stop screaming slurs. That’s why I say this wasn’t just a bar fight. This was about hate.”
LaBeouf was quickly released after his arrest and was pictured in bars across New Orleans again during Mardi Gras on the evening of February 17th.
Yesterday (February 18th), LaBeouf broke his silence for the first time since his arrest, taking to his X account to write, “Free me”.
LaBeouf is tentatively scheduled to appear at New Orleans criminal court for a hearing on March 19th, 2026.
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