Shia LeBeouf Says He’s “Embarrassed” By Slur, But Context Is Everything
Shia LaBeouf, costar of the new Indiana Jones and The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull film, and star of last summer’s Transformers movie, is HOT, with a capital H O T, but sadly, like most young stars in Hollywood, he has a penchant for being a major dumbass at times.
Yesterday, a YouTube video showing a young Shia drunk off his ass, screwing around with some friends surfaced on the internet. LeBeouf, who was goading his friend in what can only be described as a teen prank, called him of them a “f*ggot”. Now, E! is reporting that Shia is “embarrassed” by the video and his rep issued a statement:
“The videotape that is currently being circulated is several years old and captures Shia playing a game among friends in which he uses a derogatory word toward a friend,†LaBeouf’s rep tells me exclusively. “He regrets having used the word in any capacity and is very embarrassed that this footage is being seen by anyone.â€
That last sentence is the clincher. If you watch the video (it’s been pulled from YT) the real issue here is excessive drinking and stupidity. It’s pretty doubtful that Shia is anti-gay or that he thinks his friend exhibits signs which demonstrate any “gay-like” qualities. Essentially, Shia was doing what most boys at that age do: acting like an idiot.
To take this whole thing out of context makes light of real bigots and gay-bashers I feel. While Shia should understand he’s in the limelight and exercise some control over himself, I do NOT feel this incident should imply anything inherently evil about Shia, except perhaps he can’t handle his liquor. And considering his family history, he might be better off not drinking at all.
P.S. Shia, you might want to get better friends, you know, the kind that don’t sell you out.
File this under “mountain out of a mole-hill”.
Via Michael K at DListed.
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Saying something politically incorrect (at any age) is far more satisfying when you’re pissed off. The meaner and more vicious the word, the more impact it has. Of course, you regret you said it if it hurt an African American, a woman, a gay person or whatever the brand of slur you uttered might have been. You REALLY regret it when you’re a major celebrity and some asshat puts it on YouTube. I pity Shia the loss of his private life. I hope it’s worth it. I for one love swearing, but man, sometimes I can hardly believe what comes out of my mouth sometimes–especially behind the wheel . . . and I love everybody . . . no,really.
Comment by Artoo45 — June 11, 2008 @ 3:17 pm
Good grief, how old is he now, 22? No telling how old that video is, I agree D, its a much to do about nothing. A kid just being, a stupid kid.
I cant tell what the last sentence is, its a girl saying something with the word “video”.
Comment by Gradyman — June 11, 2008 @ 7:48 pm
He was a kid and he was stupid; I’m just grateful neither he nor any of his buddies got behind the wheel.
As long as he stays away from that whack-a-doodle Cruise and his COS cronies, he’ll be good.
Comment by A Watcher — June 11, 2008 @ 8:58 pm
I haven’t watched the video, but I don’t think he should feel too bad. If any homosexuals were offended by the comment, I’d like to know…all of the gay guys I know use the word “fag” all the time and don’t mind it’s use around them depending on the intent.
It’s language and often (especially in the English language) words can have more than one meaning and even new meanings if the language is “changed” due to popularized misuse (see: cool, chill out, and other bad Mr. Freeze jokes). Often times the intent behind the word should be examined and not the word itself. Afterall, Negro was just the Spanish word for black, queer used to just mean odd, gay meant happy, and “ain’t” made it into the dictionary.
The point is, language changes and words can often drop their negative connotations through using the word in a less negative manner.
2 cents.
Comment by Anon, Anon, My Boyfriend's Back! — June 12, 2008 @ 12:58 pm
I’m gay… and I can say that neither I (nor anybody else I know that is gay) takes offense at the generic use of the word, “faggot” — unless it’s truly used as an epithet aimed at someone gay.
The word has fallen into common use as a generic insult… hell, my friends and I (both gay and straight) use it between each other. It’s been completely de-fanged.
His use of the word wasn’t homophobic.
Comment by David Mudkips — June 12, 2008 @ 7:19 pm
looks like deep thinking or language censorship was not a high priority for this little episode… it’s surprising that this is getting blown up so much
Comment by patrick — June 18, 2008 @ 3:46 pm