Shia LaBeouf Addresses Abuse Allegations, Details Sobriety Journey on Jon Bernthal's Podcast

"I went and loaded up a gun and sat at my table, and was gonna kill myself"

BY Allie GregoryPublished Aug 29, 2022

Following allegations of abuse and an ensuing lawsuit lodged by ex-partner FKA twigs, Shia LaBeouf says he is sober and eager to make amends, as revealed in a recent episode of actor Jon Bernthal's podcast, Real Ones.

"I'm in the tribe of the fuck-ups. I'm a very public sinner; a very fallible person in the public sphere," LaBeouf admitted in conversation with Bernthal.

The actor did not name his accuser, but acknowledged that he "hurt that woman" and "hurt many other people, and many other people before that woman... I was a pleasure-seeking, selfish, self-centred, dishonest, inconsiderate, fearful human being."

LaBeouf referred to his accuser as a "saint" who "saved [his] fucking life" by holding him accountable for his actions. "Had she not intervened in my life and not created the avenue for me to experience ego death, I'd either have a really mediocre existence or I'd be dead in full." LaBeouf shared that he had considered suicide after the allegations surfaced: "I went and loaded up a gun and sat at my table, and was gonna kill myself."

Now purporting to be more than 600 days sober following rehabilitation admittance, the actor shared his thoughts on his role within the #MeToo sphere as a man accused of sexual battery, assault and infliction of emotional distress:

What I think now my purpose is, is to not do… the other examples that we've had of how to navigate something like this — which is to go after the woman, or try to win a court case, or get back into a fucking movie or like get back on at all. I need to be useful. And when I look at this #MeToo environment, there's not a whole lot of dudes that are taking accountability.

FKA twigs — born Tahliah Barnett — and LaBeouf's legal proceedings will bring them to court on April 17, 2023. Previously, LeBeouf had denied "each and every" allegation, claiming "self-defence," with his legal team arguing that Barnett had "not suffered any injury or damage" as a result of his actions.

Watch an excerpt from the interview below.

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