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Shia LaBeouf apologises for racial outburst following Georgia arrest

'My outright disrespect for authority is problematic to say the least and completely destructive to say the worst. It is a new low,' says actor

Maya Oppenheim
Thursday 13 July 2017 10:48 BST
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Police release bodycam footage of Shia LeBeouf shouting obscenities during arrest

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Shia LaBeouf has apologised after footage emerged of him using racially charged language towards a black policeman after he was arrested for public drunkenness over the weekend.

The actor, who is famed for his roles in Transformers and Nymphomaniac, was arrested in the foyer of a hotel in Savannah, Georgia in the early hours of Saturday on suspicion of obstruction, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

Footage of the arrest has since been shared online showing LaBeouf repeatedly swearing at the police officers and accusing them of being racist for "arresting [him] for being white".

The actor then goes on to shout "I've got more millionaire lawyers than you know what to do with" and tells a black officer that he will "go to hell".

According to police, the actor became incensed after a bystander refused to give him a cigarette and then began using offensive language in front of children and acting disorderly.

LaBeouf, who was later released on a $7,000 bond, has now said he is profoundly ashamed of his behaviour and would not attempt to excuse it. LaBeouf also said he had been coping with addiction publicly for too long and was making efforts towards getting sober.

“I am deeply ashamed of my behaviour and make no excuse for it,” the 31-year-old said in a Twitter post.

“I don't know if these statements are too frequent, or not shared often enough, but I am certain that my actions warrant a very sincere apology to the arresting officers, and I am grateful for their restraint. The severity of my behaviour is not lost on me.

“My outright disrespect for authority is problematic to say the least and completely destructive to say the worst. It is a new low. A low I hope is a bottom. I have been struggling with addiction publicly for far too long, and I am actively taking steps towards securing my sobriety and hope I can be forgiven for my mistakes”.

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LaBeouf was arrested a few months ago at his own New York art exhibition "He Will Not Divide Us" in protest against President Donald Trump. The actor was involved in an altercation with a man with differing political views at the installation.

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