“Gay people scare me,” Shia LaBeouf says, claiming that his arrest during Mardi Gras was due to homophobia.

Shia LaBeouf is citing his fear of “big gay people” as the reason for his arrest in New Orleans last week.

In one interview with YouTuber Andrew Callaghan released on Saturday, the 39-year-old actor shared what led up to his arrest amid the city’s Mardi Gras celebrations.

“When I’m standing alone and there are three gays next to me touching my feet, I get scared,” he said. “I’m sorry. If he’s homophobic, so am I. Yes.”

LaBeouf said, “I’ll be honest with you, older gay people are scary to me.”

A representative for LaBeouf did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The actor, best known for his starring roles in “Transformers” and Disney Channel’s “Even Stevens”, was arrested in New Orleans last week and accused of fatally shooting two people outside a Royal Street business during the festival, according to police.

“LaBeouf then allegedly attacked another man –

punching him in the nose,” police said in a statement last week. “LaBeouf was again restrained until police arrived.”

It is unclear what exactly caused the incident.

But in the interview with Callaghan, the actor suggested that he had had a fight with someone gay or that he was frustrated at the presence of gay people around him.

He said, “I’m fine with gays – though, stay gay out there.” “Don’t be gay in my lap.”

He said, “That’s why. I was drunk and it’s Mardi Gras. So everything I’m saying is bullshit.”

LaBeouf was arrested upon being released from the hospital that day for treating “undisclosed injuries.” According to officials, he was charged with simple batteries twice.

Last week was not his first run-in with the law, nor were his latest comments the first bigoted remarks he has made.

LaBeouf was arrested in 2017 on suspicion of public intoxication, The Associated Press reported. According to the AP report, LaBeouf made racist remarks at police upon his arrest. The actor later apologised, calling his addiction a struggle and the public intoxication allegations were dropped.

He was sued in 2020 by his former partner, British singer FKA Twigs, who accused him of strangling her and intentionally giving her a sexually transmitted disease. The case was settled out of court last year.