Man assaulted by Shia LaBeouf seeks hate crime charges after Mardi Gras incident

A man attacked by Shia LaBeouf during Mardi Gras in New Orleans urges prosecutors to pursue hate crime charges

One of the men involved in an alleged altercation with Shia LaBeouf in New Orleans is calling for hate crime charges following the actor’s recent arrest during Mardi Gras celebrations.

According to The Guardian, Jeffrey Damnit—an actor and performer who was dressed in drag at the time—accused LaBeouf of punching him and another man while repeatedly using a homophobic slur. Damnit said the incident was offensive to people in alternative communities and expressed hope that prosecutors would pursue enhanced penalties under Louisiana’s hate crime laws.

Police reports cited by the publication allege that the incident occurred at R Bar in the city’s Marigny neighborhood. Authorities claim LaBeouf became aggressive after being asked to leave, attempted to strike a bar manager, and later punched Damnit, who had intervened. A second individual, Nathan Thomas Reed, was also allegedly struck, despite indicating he did not want to fight.

Officers further alleged that LaBeouf directed slurs at both individuals during the confrontation. Bystanders reportedly restrained the actor until police arrived. He was later taken to a hospital, released, and booked on two misdemeanor battery charges.

When approached for comment, LaBeouf responded dismissively to a reporter, using profanity. Video footage reviewed by the outlet also reportedly shows the actor using offensive language during the incident.

Damnit argued that failing to pursue stronger charges could send a harmful message, particularly given LaBeouf’s public profile. Louisiana law allows for stricter penalties if crimes are found to be motivated by bias related to characteristics such as gender or sexual identity.

Following his release from custody, LaBeouf was reportedly seen returning to Mardi Gras festivities in the city’s French Quarter.

The actor has previously faced legal issues, including arrests tied to disorderly conduct and past incidents involving offensive remarks, as noted in the report.