Shia LaBeouf’s Ups and Downs Through the Years

Credit: Buena Vista Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock; Mediapunch/Shutterstock; DAVID SWANSON/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Shia LaBeouf’s Ups and Downs Through the Years

Shia LaBeouf has weathered multiple arrests, abuse allegations and more since his introduction into the spotlight as a child star. The actor became one to watch while starring on the Disney Channel series Even Stevens. He went on to appear in both commercially successful and critically acclaimed films, including the Transformers franchise, Honey Boy and The Peanut Butter Falcon. Despite his rising star, LaBeouf dealt with alcoholism and PTSD. “Alcohol or any of that s—t will send you haywire. I can’t f—k with none of it. I’ve got to keep my head low,” he told Variety in September 2016. “I got a Napoleonic complex. I start drinking and I feel smaller than I am, and I get louder than I should. It’s just not for me, dude.” In addition to making headlines for his bizarre antics, the Holes star was arrested on several occasions. He was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing in June 2014 after disrupting the Broadway production of Cabaret, booked for misdemeanor public intoxication in October 2015, taken into custody in July 2017 for disorderly conduct and public drunkenness and charged with counts of battery and petty theft following a June 2020 altercation. [jwplayer tMg1djUn-l3ahXupL] LaBeouf’s ex-girlfriend FKA twigs filed a lawsuit against him in December 2020, accusing him of “relentless abuse” and sexual battery. The Disturbia star told The New York Times in a statement that “many of these allegations are not true” but he accepted “accountability” for his mistakes. “I am not cured of my PTSD and alcoholism,” he said. “I am committed to doing what I need to do to recover, and I will forever be sorry to the people that I may have harmed along the way.” In another statement, LaBeouf added: “I’m not in any position to tell anyone how my behavior made them feel. I have no excuses for my alcoholism or aggression, only rationalizations. I have been abusive to myself and everyone around me for years. I have a history of hurting the people closest to me. I’m ashamed of that history and am sorry to those I hurt. There is nothing else I can really say.” Scroll through the gallery below to revisit LaBeouf’s ups and downs through the years.

Credit: Buena Vista Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock; Mediapunch/Shutterstock; DAVID SWANSON/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Shia LaBeouf’s Ups and Downs Through the Years

Shia LaBeouf has weathered multiple arrests, abuse allegations and more since his introduction into the spotlight as a child star. The actor became one to watch while starring on the Disney Channel series Even Stevens. He went on to appear in both commercially successful and critically acclaimed films, including the Transformers franchise, Honey Boy and The Peanut Butter Falcon. Despite his rising star, LaBeouf dealt with alcoholism and PTSD. “Alcohol or any of that s—t will send you haywire. I can’t f—k with none of it. I’ve got to keep my head low,” he told Variety in September 2016. “I got a Napoleonic complex. I start drinking and I feel smaller than I am, and I get louder than I should. It’s just not for me, dude.” In addition to making headlines for his bizarre antics, the Holes star was arrested on several occasions. He was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing in June 2014 after disrupting the Broadway production of Cabaret, booked for misdemeanor public intoxication in October 2015, taken into custody in July 2017 for disorderly conduct and public drunkenness and charged with counts of battery and petty theft following a June 2020 altercation. [jwplayer tMg1djUn-l3ahXupL] LaBeouf’s ex-girlfriend FKA twigs filed a lawsuit against him in December 2020, accusing him of “relentless abuse” and sexual battery. The Disturbia star told The New York Times in a statement that “many of these allegations are not true” but he accepted “accountability” for his mistakes. “I am not cured of my PTSD and alcoholism,” he said. “I am committed to doing what I need to do to recover, and I will forever be sorry to the people that I may have harmed along the way.” In another statement, LaBeouf added: “I’m not in any position to tell anyone how my behavior made them feel. I have no excuses for my alcoholism or aggression, only rationalizations. I have been abusive to myself and everyone around me for years. I have a history of hurting the people closest to me. I’m ashamed of that history and am sorry to those I hurt. There is nothing else I can really say.” Scroll through the gallery below to revisit LaBeouf’s ups and downs through the years.

Credit: Buena Vista Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock; Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

June 2000

LaBeouf won over audiences as Louis Stevens in Disney Channel’s Even Stevens from 2000 to 2003; he even received a Daytime Emmy for his performance. After leaving the series behind, he graduated to more adult fare, including 2007’s Transformers and Disturbia.

Credit: Axel Schmidt/AP/Shutterstock

January 2014

The Lawless star tweeted in January 2014 that he was “retiring from all public life” due to “recent attacks against my artistic integrity.” However, his retreat from the spotlight only lasted a matter of days. 

The following month, he wore a paper bag over his head that read “I Am Not Famous Anymore” at the Berlin premiere of his film Nymphomaniac.

Credit: John Minchillo/AP/Shutterstock

June 2014

LaBeouf was arrested at the Broadway show Cabaret after being disruptive and charged with disorderly conduct, harassment and criminal trespass. He pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, while the other charges were dropped.

Credit: Joanne Davidson/Shutterstock

July 2014

After his arrest, the Disney Channel alum voluntarily sought treatment for alcoholism. “He understands that these recent actions are a symptom of a larger health problem and he has taken the first of many necessary steps towards recovery,” his rep said in a statement to Us Weekly at the time.

Credit: Giles Keyte/Columbia/Kobal/Shutterstock

October 2014

LaBeouf earned rave reviews for his performance in the Brad Pitt-led war film Fury.

Credit: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/Shutterstock; David Fisher/Shutterstock

July 2015

The Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull actor was caught on camera fighting with girlfriend Mia Goth, whom he began dating in 2012, in a video released by Entertainment Tonight. “I don’t want to touch you. I don’t want to be aggressive. This is the kind of s—t that makes a person abusive,” he said, alleging that he “would have killed her” if he stayed in Germany with the actress.

Credit: AP/Shutterstock

October 2015

LaBeouf was arrested in Austin, Texas, and booked for misdemeanor public intoxication. He was later released from jail.

Credit: Invision/AP/Shutterstock

September 2016

LaBeouf revealed that he was nearly one-year sober. “I had people tell me it was going to [ruin my career],” he recalled to Variety. “People I respected — dudes I wanted to work with — just looked me in the eyes and said, ‘Life’s too short for this s—t.’ I’m still earning my way back. I’m happy working.” 

Later that year, he starred in the well-received American Honey.

Credit: James Shaw/Shutterstock

October 2016

LaBeouf tied the knot with Goth in an Elvis Presley-themed Las Vegas wedding.

Credit: AP/Shutterstock

July 2017

The former child star was arrested in Savannah, Georgia, for disorderly conduct, public drunkenness and obstruction of justice. He pleaded no contest to the disorderly conduct charge and was found guilty of obstruction of justice. He was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and attend therapy for anger management and substance abuse.

Credit: Lionel Hahn/January Images/Shutterstock Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP/Shutterstock; Andy Kropa/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

September 2018

Us confirmed that LaBeouf and Goth filed for divorce and he moved on with his Honey Boy costar FKA twigs. His rep told Us in September 2018 that the split was “amicable.”  

He sparked reconciliation rumors with Goth in March 2020 when they were spotted wearing their wedding rings and showing PDA.

Credit: Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

October 2019

The Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps actor opened up about his PTSD diagnosis. “I just thought I was an alcoholic, like, a true-blue drunk and I needed to deal with that,” he said on The Hollywood Reporter’s “Awards Chatter” podcast of attending court-ordered rehab. “I knew it was an issue but didn’t know there was this extra whole other thing that was hindering my ability to have any peace in my life and my ability to deal with people.”

Credit: Automatik/Amazon/Sony/Kobal/Shutterstock

November 2019

LaBeouf wrote and starred in Honey Boy, penning the script while in rehab and portraying a character based on his father. Earlier that year, he appeared in The Peanut Butter Falcon. Both roles garnered praise from critics.

Credit: Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

October 2020

The California native was charged with petty theft and battery after allegedly assaulting a man in Los Angeles in June 2020.

Credit: David Fisher/Shutterstock; Shutterstock

December 2020

FKA twigs filed a lawsuit against LaBeouf, claiming that he abused her multiple times and knowingly gave her a sexually transmitted disease during their yearlong relationship. She accused him of sexual battery, assault and infliction of emotional distress. Another of his exes, Karolyn Pho, also alleged he abused her.  

The Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle actor said in a statement that “many of these allegations are not true” but he admitted to being “abusive” for “years.” He noted that he was currently sober as well as in a 12-step program and therapy.

Credit: Snorlax / MEGA

November 2021

Goth and LaBeouf made headlines in fall 2021 when she was spotted out and about in California with a growing baby bump.

Credit: Snorlax / MEGA

March 2022

The on-again, off-again couple welcomed their first child in early 2022. LaBeouf later confirmed that they welcomed a baby girl, named Isabel, in an email he shared with Variety. "I have a little girl, Isabel; she is five months old and just beginning to develop the last half of her laugh; it’s AMAZING. Mia, my wife & I have found each other again & are journeying toward a healthy family with love and mutual respect."

Credit: Snorlax / MEGA

August 2022

Shortly after Olivia Wilde told Variety that she fired LaBeouf from her film Don't Worry Darling, he shared an email with the outlet refuting her version of events. "I am a little confused about the narrative that I was fired," he wrote in an open letter to the director. "You and I both know the reasons for my exit. I quit your film because your actors & I couldn’t find time to rehearse. ... Firing me never took place, Olivia. And while I fully understand the attractiveness of pushing that story because of the current social landscape, the social currency that brings. It is not the truth."

Credit: Tom Nook / MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 634

August 2022

After spending nearly two years out of the spotlight, the former Disney Channel star opened up about experiencing suicidal ideation as a result of his multiple controversies and lawsuits. “At this point I’m nuclear. Nobody wants to talk to me, including my mother. The manager’s not calling. The agent’s not calling. I’m not connected to the business anymore,” he explained in an interview with Bishop Robert Barron. “I didn’t want to be alive anymore when all this happened. Shame like I had never experienced before — the kind of shame that you forget how to breathe."

LaBeouf explained that playing the Catholic saint Padre Pio helped him find faith and address his mental health struggles. “But I was also in this deep desire to hold on,” he added, noting he found his faith during research for the film. “The reach-out had happened. I was already there, I had nowhere to go. ... I know now that God was using my ego to draw me to Him. Drawing me away from worldly desires. It was all happening simultaneously."