Shia LaBeouf Seen Church-Hopping After Humiliating Mardi Gras Arrest

The recent events may have triggered a change of heart for Shia LaBeouf and a reminder of the faith he once declared.

The actor, who recently got arrested after a bar fight in New Orleans during his Mardi Gras celebrations, was seen church-hopping a few days after his release. As this was not his first time dealing with the law, previous reports of similar incidents came to light, raising public concern for the TV star.

The concerns for Shia LaBeouf are not only from his fans and members of the public. His wife, whom he reportedly separated from about a year ago, is also worried about him slipping back into old habits.

LaBeouf toned things down on Wednesday after drinking and partying all through the previous day following his release from jail. The actor was seen going for a run in the afternoon around the park, and then visiting two Catholic churches upon returning from his run.

LaBeouf left his home in New Orleans to visit St. Francis of Assisi and St. Stephen Catholic churches, most likely to observe Ash Wednesday, but his attempts ended futilely as both churches were closed.

Pictures uploaded by Page Six showed the actor dressed in a pink shirt sitting alone at a restaurant. He reportedly chatted with a woman outside the upscale Mediterranean restaurant Saj, but he ended up dining alone inside.

This comes days after LaBeouf was seen headbutting a man outside a bar and then being beaten up by a group of boys. He was subsequently charged with two counts of simple battery and spent time behind bars.

LaBeouf was exposed to different religions as his parents did not practice the same faith. He was raised by a Catholic father and a Jewish mother. The actor had a Bar Mitzvah, which is an important ceremony for a Jewish boy to celebrate the coming of age, and he was also baptized in the church.

The media personality did not delve deep into his practice of Catholicism until 2022, after starring in the movie "Padre Pio," where he portrayed an Italian priest, Francesco Forgione. 

While preparing for the film, he lived in a monastery with Franciscan Capuchin friars and gave up alcohol. A year later, on 2023 New Year's Eve, he was confirmed into the Catholic Church and showed interest in building a religious reputation.

The TV star, who was recently involved in a fight outside a bar that led to his hospitalization and arrest, has people asking a lot of questions, especially about his sobriety. 

While it has not been established that the fight was fueled by intoxication, LaBeouf was seen at the Mardi Gras parade chugging a beer after his release. 

His estranged wife, Mia Goth, with whom he shares a daughter, Isabel, is reportedly concerned for him. Although the couple has split up quietly,  they seem to have no ill feelings toward each other.

As shared by The Blast, Goth has since gotten over her feelings for the Hollywood star but maintains a good co-parenting relationship and still cares for him as the father of her child. Their romance has been rocky. They met in 2012, dated on and off for years till they tied the knot in 2016.

Two years later, news of a possible divorce hit the media, but they apparently resolved their issues and reunited in 2020. Currently, they remain separated, yet it has not been confirmed whether either party has filed for divorce.

After his quest split from Goth, the former child star relocated from Los Angeles to New Orleans after buying a $1 million home, the property, which sits about 20 minutes from the French Quarter, is a 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath Uptown cottage.

LaBeouf's intentions for this move were to be closer to family, especially his dad, Jeffrey, who also lives in the area, and to get away from the hustle and tussle of life in L.A., stating that he wants to "reset and refocus."

The Blast reports that the actor has tried maintaining a low profile in his new area, though the locals have come to know him by his signature vehicle, a black and grey Ram truck.

He has also been found going out for drinks with people regularly, yet insisting that he is sober and does not plan on going back on that decision. 

His confirmation into the Catholic Church was a stepping stone to the greater goal he had set for himself in his walk with God. At the time, LaBeouf affirmed that he had embraced the teachings of the Catholic Church and was determined to grow a sincere relationship with God.

His confirmation sponsor, Capuchin friar Brother Alexander Rodriguez, told the Catholic News Agency at the time that the Disney alum wanted to become a deacon in the future.

The Blast previously shared that since doing the 2022 film "Padre Pio," he began thinking about becoming a demon. His faith was strengthened after his encounter with a higher being while playing his character in the movie amid his struggle with real-life suicidal thoughts.

Will Shia LaBeouf return to his previous religious calling?