Shia LaBeouf is arraigned in Midtown Community Court in New York June 27 after being accused of disturbing a performance of musical Cabaret in New York. He is undergoing treatment for alcoholism, his publicist said on Tuesday.POOL/Reuters
Shia LaBeouf is not going into rehab, but he will receive treatment for alcohol addiction.
The 28-year-old actor has voluntarily checked into a facility in an undisclosed location for treatment to alcohol dependence, according to a statement released late Tuesday by his representatives.
Best known for his recurring role in the Transformers movie franchise – and his erratic off-camera activity – LaBeouf was arrested in New York on charges of disorderly conduct and criminal trespass after he allegedly lit a cigarette and shouted at the actors on stage during a performance of Cabaret at the Studio 54 theatre.
Police described LaBeouf's behaviour as "drunk and disruptive."
According to the statement released by LaBeouf's handlers: "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."
The statement also came with a clarification: "Contrary to previous erroneous reports, Shia LaBeouf has not checked into a rehabilitation facility but he is voluntarily receiving treatment for alcohol addiction."
A former child star whose career launched with the Disney Channel series Even Stevens, LaBeouf had his first mug shot taken in 2007 when he refused to leave a Chicago drugstore after a security guard accused him of being intoxicated.
In 2008, LaBeouf was arrested by Los Angeles police on suspicion of DUI after his truck was hit by another vehicle running a red light.
For whatever reason, LaBeouf's has stepped up his peculiar public behaviour in recent months.
The actor began his year by defending himself against charges that he had plagiarized the work of graphic novelist Daniel Clowes for his short film HowardCantour.com.
Once the plagiarism became public knowledge, LaBeouf apologized by hiring a skywriter to write the words "I am sorry Daniel Clowes" over Los Angeles. Around the same time, LaBeouf went on Twitter to abruptly announce his retirement.
"In light of the recent attacks on my artistic integrity, I am retiring from all public life," read LaBeouf's tweet.
But no such luck.
A few weeks later, LaBeouf chose to grace the red carpet for the film Nymphomaniac at the Berlin Film Festival by wearing a brown paper bag on his head with the words "I am not famous anymore" written on it.
One week later, LaBeouf mounted his own art installation in Los Angeles, which required him to put the paper bag back on his head and sit in a stark room and cry for the entertainment of visitors.