Shia LaBeouf was taken away from a Broadway performance of Cabaret in handcuffs on Thursday night following some very bizarre behavior. He’s been charged with two counts of disorderly conduct and one count of criminal trespassing. The show, which stars Michelle Williams and Alan Cumming, was in its first act when the Transformers star started behaving in a very disruptive manner. The NYPD reports that Shia was also ‘making threats.’ The cast and audience members witnessed the rather disturbing scene.
LaBeouf made big headlines earlier this year for his ‘performance art’ in Berlin–wearing a paper bag over his head at a red carpet event that read ‘I’m Not Famous Anymore.’ That, of course, has some people wondering if Thursday night’s stunt at the theater was yet another facet of the bizarre actor’s ‘performance art.’
Social media is abuzz with comments about the strange incident.
Shia LaBeouf Was Handcuffed, Escorted out of Broadway 'Cabaret' tonight.
— Enty Lawyer (@entylawyer) June 27, 2014
NEW: Actor Shia LaBeouf escorted in handcuffs by police from a NYC theater for allegedly smoking inside, being disruptive – @AaronKatersky
— Good Morning America (@GMA) June 27, 2014
Actress Lena Dunham seemed to find humor in the odd situation.
Seriously feel awful for the performers and am sorry to contribute to celebrity takedown culture but this is the best current event we have!
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) June 27, 2014
Coincidentally–or not–this weekend marks the premiere of Transformers: Age of Extinction–and this is the first film in the franchise in which Shia LaBeouf isn’t starring. Mark Wahlberg has taken over his role.
Is Shia LaBeouf mentally unstable or is he simply displaying his ‘performance art’ in a most belligerent way? Is he trying to get attention because Transformers premieres this weekend and he isn’t part of the award-winning cast?
Either way it’s kind of sad. The former Even Stevens Disney child star was adorable and talented. His career skyrocketed shortly thereafter. Something has very clearly gone wrong.
Image via Wikimedia Commons