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Shia LaBeouf’s Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans took a dramatic turn early Tuesday morning when the actor was arrested following a shirtless brawl outside a French Quarter bar. Paramedics responded to the scene, and court records show LaBeouf is now facing two counts of simple battery.
Shirtless Brawl Leads to Shia LaBeouf’s Arrest in French Quarter
TMZ footage shows LaBeouf leaning into a man during the altercation and later receiving medical attention on the street, appearing largely uninjured. He was eventually loaded into an ambulance with lights flashing before being taken into custody.
The incident capped off an extended weekend of bar-hopping across Uptown and the French Quarter, where LaBeouf visited Ms Mae’s, Dos Jefes, Brothers III Lounge, and 45 Tchoup.
Staff described him as both belligerent and playful at times, including attempting to serve drinks at a bar and repeatedly asking to use his credit card in cash-only establishments. Witnesses also noted moments of friendly interaction with fans, posing for photos and joining in Mardi Gras festivities.
Internet Revives ‘Actual Cannibal’ Meme After Arrest
Social media quickly lit up after the arrest. One Reddit user jokingly called him “Actual Cannibal Shia LaBeouf,” referencing a 2012 viral song by musician Rob Cantor that humorously imagined LaBeouf as a cannibal lurking in the woods, complete with dramatic lyrics like “Running for your life … Eating all the bodies.”
LaBeouf later appeared at the end of the theatrical performance and applauded it, showing he was in on the joke. While purely fictional, the meme has stuck in internet culture, which is why fans could reference it in connection with his Mardi Gras antics.
The Even Stevens actor has openly discussed the impact of substance abuse and untreated trauma on his behavior. He entered court-mandated rehab after a 2017 arrest in Savannah, Georgia, for public intoxication and disorderly conduct, and has since sought long-term sobriety support through therapy and recovery programs.
Prior to the arrest, LaBeouf had been seen enjoying post-Lundi Gras parades and dancing in the streets, soaking up the festivities. Witnesses described a mixture of chaotic and playful energy, with fans snapping photos amid the revelry.
Whether this latest incident will affect the rest of his Mardi Gras weekend remains to be seen, but the combination of arrest footage and viral memes suggests the story will continue to dominate social media.
