NEW ORLEANS — Actor Shia LaBeouf was arrested in the early hours of Mardi Gras Day after an alleged altercation in the French Quarter that left two men claiming they were assaulted, according to police and court records. Authorities said officers responded to a disturbance around 12:45 a.m. near a business on Royal Street, where LaBeouf had reportedly been ejected and then returned, escalating the confrontation.

LaBeouf, 39, faces two misdemeanor counts of simple battery, police said. Witnesses and reports cited by multiple outlets allege the incident involved punches and, in one widely shared clip, what appears to be a headbutt during a heated street exchange.

The New Orleans Police Department said LaBeouf was restrained by bystanders until officers arrived, and he was taken to a hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries before being booked. He later appeared in court and is scheduled for a March 19 hearing, according to reports.

As the footage raced across social platforms, the story quickly shifted from a local arrest to a national viral moment—fueling renewed scrutiny of LaBeouf’s long-running pattern of public incidents. The Associated Press noted the arrest follows previous legal troubles, while Entertainment Weekly reported the actor posted a brief reaction online after the arrest.

Beyond the celebrity shock factor, the episode has reignited a familiar debate: whether viral clips deliver accountability—or simply turn conflict into content. With key details still disputed and investigations ongoing, what’s clear is that one night in New Orleans has once again pushed LaBeouf’s name to the top of the internet’s most combustible feed.