Shia LaBeouf

Actor refutes comments from director Olivia Wilde that his 'combative energy' on set was reason he left production.

LaBeouf’s attorney said in a court filing that the actor “denies generally and specifically each and every allegation” in the complaint. He left the role in August 2020 and was replaced by Styles. He has a process that, in some ways, seems to require a combative energy, and I don’t personally believe that is conducive to the best performances.

Editor's Note: If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters, please call the National Suicide Prevention ...

But there would have been no impetus for me to get in my car, drive up [to the monastery] if I didn't think, 'Oh, I'm gonna save my career,'" he said. "It was seeing other people who have sinned beyond anything I could ever conceptualize also being found in Christ that made me feel like, 'Oh, that gives me hope,' " he said. "I had a gun on the table.

Shia LaBeouf says, contrary to Olivia Wilde's account of firing the actor from her upcoming film 'Don't Worry Darling,' that he quit “due to lack of ...

Sandwiched between that sanctimony, LaBeouf says he is 627 days sober and writes, “I know that you are beginning your press run for DWD and that the news of my firing is attractive clickbait, as I am still persona-non-grata and may remain as such for the rest of my life.” He refers to his ongoing lawsuit, saying, “My failings with Twigs are fundamental and real, but they are not the narrative that has been presented. He has a process that, in some ways, seems to require a combative energy, and I don’t personally believe that is conducive to the best performances. I pray every night that you & your family have health, happiness, & everything God would give me,” and ends, “Every Blessing To You” — both of which seem influenced by LaBoeuf’s newfound There is a time and a place to deal with such things, and I am trying to navigate a nuanced situation with respect for her and the truth, hence my silence.” He adds, plainly (italicized even), “Firing me never took place, Olivia.” August 19, 2020: Wilde sends LaBeouf a video message in which she says she’s “not ready to give up on this yet.” According to Variety, she said, “You know, I think this might be a bit of a wake-up call for Miss Flo, and I want to know if you’re open to giving this a shot with me, with us. Unknown date between August 16 and 20, 2020: Wilde allegedly texts LaBeouf, “You don’t have to be in my movies but don’t ever doubt me. That means something in my house.” It’s beginning to seem like this set was mutually annoying. If she really commits, if she really puts her mind and heart into it at this point and if you guys can make peace — and I respect your point of view, I respect hers — but if you guys can do it, what do you think? In an email to [Variety](https://variety.com/2022/film/news/shia-labeouf-denies-fired-olivia-wilde-dont-worry-darling-1235350529/), LaBeouf said he “quit the film due to lack of rehearsal time.” Contrary to the studio and Wilde’s narrative that LaBeouf was fired before he was replaced with [Harry Styles](https://www.vulture.com/2022/08/harry-styles-tour-love-island-uk-the-bear.html), a source told Variety that it was more of a mutual breakup — due to LaBeouf’s method-acting style being a poor fit for the project. I’m honored you were willing to go there with me, for me to tell a story with you. LaBeouf forwarded text messages, emails, and videos with Wilde to Variety to support his claim. Which is to say that he was probably extremely annoying.

Renowned actor Shia LaBeouf just recently converted to Catholicism after his stay at a monastery with Franciscan Capuchin friars, in preparation for playing ...

Drawing me away from worldly desires. “I know now that God was using my ego to draw me to Him. The celebrity announced his decision during an interview with Bishop Robert Barron on Thursday.

US actor Shia LaBeouf reveals to Bishop Robert Barron that he converted to Catholicism after being cast in the titular role for an upcoming movie about ...

Shame like I had never experienced before — the kind of shame that you forget how to breathe. It was all happening simultaneously," LaBeouf said. LaBeouf, 36, said he stayed in a monastery as part of his research for the role and said he was drawn to the spirituality of the religion as he battled suicidal thoughts and deep-rooted feelings of shame.

After setting his 'life completely on fire' and being suicidal, Shia LaBeouf became Catholic. But that news was eclipsed amid a rift with Olivia Wilde.

He described himself as “nuclear” at the time and nobody wanted to talk to him — not his manager, his agent or even his mother. He said that his spirituality long “felt fake” and that he previously equated art, love and God as synonyms — and that acting made him feel godlike. He said he was egotistical when he came onboard the film, seeing it as a move to help rehabilitate his career by co-starring with Willem Dafoe. “It was seeing other people who had sinned beyond anything I could even conceptualize also being found in Christ that made me feel like, ‘OK, that gives me hope,’” LaBeouf added. [also recently collided](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-08-23/andrew-garfield-explains-his-love-for-method-acting) when famed Method actor Andrew Garfield recently spoke about his process while playing a Jesuit priest in [Martin Scorsese’s 2016 film “Silence”](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-silence-review-20161216-story.html) — and the abstinence it entailed. But there would have been no impetus for me to get in the car and drive up [to the seminary] if I didn’t think, ‘Oh, I’m gonna save my career.’ He instead described himself as “an unintellectual feeler” and an “immersive actor” during a sprawling conversation about acting, spirituality and his conversion with [Bishop Robert Barron](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjxKG4mR3U4), the former Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles and founder of the Word on Fire ministry. He also faced charges of misdemeanor battery and petty theft stemming from an altercation in June 2020.) And while I fully understand the attractiveness of pushing that story because of the current social landscape, the social currency that brings. I hope none of this negatively [affects] you, and that your film is successful in all the ways you want it to be.” “I had a gun on the table. On Thursday, LaBeouf opened up in a separate forum about the changes he underwent after facing several years of public relations crises, including allegations of abuse and sexual misconduct by former partner FKA twigs and other legal woes.

Shia LaBeouf recalls his conversion story in an interview with Bishop Robert Barron.

The 'Honey Boy' actor shared a video and text messages with 'Variety' that he allegedly exchanged with Wilde as he was exiting the project.

She spoke to [People](https://people.com/music/fka-twigs-says-miracle-to-survive-shia-labeouf-relationship-elle-magazine/) in February 2021 about the relationship, saying it was “It’s a miracle I came out alive.” People also obtained LaBeouf’s response to the lawsuit, in which he “denies, generally and specifically, each and every allegation contained in [Barnett]’s Complaint.” But he has also admitted to long-running to toxicity, telling [The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/arts/music/fka-twigs-shia-labeouf-abuse.html), in part, “I have been abusive to myself and everyone around me for years. In the video, Wilde reportedly can be seen driving her car while telling LaBeouf that she is “not ready to give up on this yet” and insinuating that LaBeouf’s commitment level to the project might serve as a “wake-up call” for Pugh. “You know, I think this might be a bit of a wake-up call for Miss Flo, and I want to know if you’re open to giving this a shot with me, with us. “I feel like I’m not ready to give up on this yet, and I too am heartbroken and I want to figure this out,” she says in the video. (Vanity Fair has reached out to Wilde’s representative for comment.) Variety also reported that LaBeouf provided a video in his email in which Wilde is seen trying to convince the actor to stay on the project. Ultimately, my responsibility is to the production and to the cast to protect them.

Along with a series of texts, LaBeouf shares his side of the story.

And while I fully understand the attractiveness of pushing that story because of the current social landscape, the social currency that brings. I hope none of this negativly effects you, and that your film is succesful in all the ways you want it to be. There is a time and a place to deal with such things, and I am trying to navigate a nuanced situation with respect for her and the truth, hence my silence. And so, it makes it that much harder for me to crawl out of the hole I have dug with my behaviors, to be able to provide for my family. I have included as a reminder the screenshots of our text exchange on that day, and my text to Tobey. But this situation with your film and my “firing” will never have a court date with which to deal with the facts. You and I both know the reasons for my exit. I reached out to you a few months ago to make amends; & I still pray one day, you can find space in your heart to forgive me for the failed collaboration we shared. I have a little girl, Isabel; she is five months old and just beginning to develop the last half of her laugh; it’s AMAZING. “You know, I think this might be a bit of a wake-up call for Miss Flo, and I want to know if you’re open to giving this a shot with me, with us. I am a little confused about the narrative that I was fired, however. In the final text shared, Wilde writes to LaBeouf, “You don’t have to be in my movies but don’t ever doubt me.

Shia LaBeouf opened up on Jon Bernthal's podcast about the abuse allegations brought against him by FKA Twigs, saying he 'f---ed up' and has 'amends to make ...

I’m a very public sinner, a very fallible person in the public sphere,” LaBeouf responded. And I’m going to owe for the rest of my life.” LaBeouf later said he has a “long list of people that I need to make amends to.” “I was gonna kill myself.” The actor added: “When I think about what my life has become, and what it is now, like what my purpose is now… “And in the process of doing that, I hurt many other people, and many other people before that woman. “I fucked up bad,” LaBeouf admitted.

On Jon Bernthal's Real Ones podcast, LaBeouf said he now wants to be a "billboard, for a principled way of living"

(LaBeouf formally denied all of Twigs’ accusations against him [in 2021](https://www.today.com/popculture/shia-labeouf-denies-assault-allegations-lawsuit-filed-ex-fka-twigs-t208742), when he filed a motion to have her case against him dismissed.) “And in the process of doing that, I hurt many other people,” he added, in a manner similar to comments he [made in December 2020](https://www.newsweek.com/shia-labeouf-says-hes-ashamed-abusive-history-amid-fka-twigs-allegations-1554198#:~:text=CEO%20Dev%20Pragad-,Shia%20LaBeouf%20Says%20He's%20'Ashamed'%20of%20Abusive,History%20Amid%20FKA%20Twigs%20Allegations&text=FKA%20twigs%20has%20filed%20a,against%20her%20during%20their%20relationship.), asserting that he had been “abusive” both to himself, and others, “for years.” “And many other people before that woman. LaBeouf posits himself as he is now as a “billboard, for a principled way of living.” He also drew comparisons to Josh Brolin and Mel Gibson as actors who’ve been accused of domestic abuse in the past, and tried to chart a course through Hollywood in the aftermath. [reportedly didn’t mention Twigs’ name at all](https://variety.com/2022/film/news/shia-labeouf-abuse-allegations-apology-1235352434/) during a new episode of Jon Bernthal’s podcast Real Ones tonight (apparently, the aforementioned “time and place” to break his “silence”), instead only referring to her as “that woman.” For example: “I hurt that woman,” he tells Bernthal during the interview, although he doesn’t appear to have addressed many of the specific allegations against him. [Bernthal’s Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/realones). They [currently have an April 2023 court date set for the lawsuit](https://www.indiewire.com/2022/05/shia-labeouf-assault-fka-twigs-trial-date-lawsuit-1234721944/). [FKA Twigs made her allegations against LaBeouf in 2020](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/arts/music/fka-twigs-shia-labeouf-abuse.html). As with the Wilde letter, LaBeouf—who admits in the interview to infidelity and not disclosing STDs to sexual partners—cites the birth of his daughter as a transformational moment for him. 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.” (Padre Pio will debut this year in competition at the Venice International Film Festival.) “I went and loaded up a gun and sat on my table.”) [the open letter he sent to Olivia Wilde this week](https://www.avclub.com/shia-labeouf-claims-not-fired-from-dont-worry-darling-1849461353)—discounting her assertion that he was “fired” from her film Don’t Worry Darling—Shia LaBeouf mentions former romantic partner FKA Twigs only once. “There is a time and a place to deal with such things,” LaBeouf wrote to Wilde, “And I am trying to navigate a nuanced situation with respect for her and the truth, hence my silence.” “My failings with Twigs are fundamental and real, but they are not the narrative that has been presented,” he wrote, presumably referring [to a series of allegations that the British musician has made against him](https://www.avclub.com/fka-twigs-sues-shia-labeouf-for-sexual-battery-and-rel-1845863691), suing him for “sexual battery, assault, and infliction of emotional distress” during the course of their relationship.

Footage of a conversation between Olivia Wilde and Shia LaBeouf has cast doubt of Wilde's claim she fired the troubled actor from her upcoming film.

“Firing me never took place, Olivia,” LaBeouf continued. It is not the truth.” “I, too, am heartbroken, and I want to figure this out.” “I’m gutted because it could have been something special.” If lies are repeated enough in the public they become truth. 25+ news channels in 1 place.

Shia LaBeouf denies he was fired by Olivia Wilde from 'Don't Worry Darling', as emails and videos over the incident leak online.

There is a time and a place to deal with such things, and I am trying to navigate a nuanced situation with respect for her and the truth, hence my silence. And while I fully understand the attractiveness of pushing that story because of the current social landscape, the social currency that brings. And so, it makes it that much harder for me to crawl out of the hole I have dug with my behaviours, to be able to provide for my family. I hope none of this negatively effects you, and that your film is successful in all the ways you want it to be. I have included as a reminder the screenshots of our text exchange on that day, and my text to Tobey. But this situation with your film and my "firing" will never have a court date with which to deal with the facts. I have a little girl, Isabel; she is five months old and just beginning to develop the last half of her laugh; it's AMAZING. "You and I both know the reasons for my exit," he said. "You know, I think this might be a bit of a wake-up call for Miss Flo, and I want to know if you're open to giving this a shot with me, with us. Particularly with a movie like this, I knew that I was going to be asking Florence to be in very vulnerable situations, and my priority was making her feel safe and making her feel supported." If she really commits, if she really puts her mind and heart into it at this point and if you guys can make peace — and I respect your point of view, I respect hers — but if you guys can do it, what do you think? He also sent Variety screenshots of texts he sent to Wilde telling her he'd have to back out of the film.