The one thing no writer wants to be accused of is plagiarism, and that is exactly what has landed Shia LaBeouf in hot water this week. LaBeouf’s short film Howard Cantour was released online yesterday, and it wasn’t long before the plagiarism claims started rolling in. After people said that LaBeouf’s film ripped off Daniel Clowes’ comic Justin M. Damiano, the Howard Cantour video was pulled from public access. LaBeouf has since apologized for his oversight on Twitter and says he “f***ed up.”

Howard Cantour was shown at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012, but was only released for public viewing on Monday. The short film, like Justin M. Damiano, is about the power a critic holds over one’s career. According to Buzzfeed, not only was LaBeouf’s story similar to Clowes’, it also took direct quotes from the comic.

For example, LaBeouf’s film opens with the same narration as Clowes’ comic: “A critic is a warrior, and each of us on the battlefield have the means to glorify or demolish (whether a film, a career, or an entire philosophy) by influencing perception in ways that if heartfelt and truthful, can have far-reaching repercussions.”

Clowes says that he was “shocked” after viewing Howard Cantour. “The first I ever heard of the film was this morning when someone sent me a link. I’ve never spoken to or met Mr. LaBeouf,” Clowes said. “I’ve never even seen one of his films that I can recall–and I was shocked, to say the least, when I saw that he took the script and even many of the visuals from a very personal story I did six or seven years ago and passed it off as his own work. I actually can’t imagine what was going through his mind.”

According to Shia LaBeouf, he simply forgot to credit Clowes for inspiring his work. Check out LaBeouf’s Twitter apology below.

Copying isn't particularly creative work. Being inspired by someone else's idea to produce something new and different IS creative work.

— Shia LaBeouf (@thecampaignbook) December 17, 2013

In my excitement and naiveté as an amateur filmmaker, I got lost in the creative process and neglected to follow proper accreditation

— Shia LaBeouf (@thecampaignbook) December 17, 2013

Im embarrassed that I failed to credit @danielclowes for his original graphic novella Justin M. Damiano, which served as my inspiration

— Shia LaBeouf (@thecampaignbook) December 17, 2013

I was truly moved by his piece of work & I knew that it would make a poignant & relevant short. I apologize to all who assumed I wrote it.

— Shia LaBeouf (@thecampaignbook) December 17, 2013

I deeply regret the manner in which these events have unfolded and want @danielclowes to know that I have a great respect for his work

— Shia LaBeouf (@thecampaignbook) December 17, 2013

I fucked up.

— Shia LaBeouf (@thecampaignbook) December 17, 2013

Do you buy Shia LaBeouf’s story that he was “inspired” by Clowes’ work and didn’t copy it? Add your comments below.

Image via YouTube