S Poddar
BY A STROKE of bad luck, Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf got into a heated brawl outside a bar in Edinburgh’s busy Cowgate. In the surprising incident, 38-year-old actor of films like *Fury* and *Transformers* series was caught on camera confronting the group of men, yelling, “I’m right here, m**********r,” as he squared off for a fight.
The whole scene went down earlier this week, when LaBeouf-who’s currently in Scotland with his wife, the actress Mia Goth-was spotted outside of the OX184 bar. Quickly going viral on social media, the video sees LaBeouf flipping off his cap, raising his fists, and shouting “let’s go” at the group of men. Bystanders quickly intervened, trying to diffuse the situation by pulling LaBeouf and one of the other men apart.
And witnesses say it all went down just a day after LaBeouf was spotted enjoying a low-key pint at Whistlebinkies, one of the other favorite pubs in Edinburgh. According to one bartender, he was in high spirits, and the bartender has said to remember that he had been “nothing but nice” to anyone who crossed his path on this night. The attitude had definitely changed when things got heated on Cowgate.
LaBeouf’s arrival in Edinburgh comes as his wife stars in her own Frankenstein adaptation with film director Guillermo del Toro. Goth, 30, is filming in the Scottish capital, where co-star Christoph Waltz was seen cheering on Celtic during a football match recently. The highly anticipated film is due for release next year and gives a touch of Hollywood glamour to the city.
This isn’t the first time LaBeouf has made headlines for his off-screen behavior: The actor-who first rose to fame as a child star in the Disney Channel series *Even Stevens*-has a long history of public outbursts and confrontations. And yet, he is still a very respected actor; he has been praised for an immense, unbending talent in films such as *Borg vs McEnroe* and *The Peanut Butter Falcon*.
Since LaBeouf has continued to join his wife on her filming commitments across Scotland, it is not yet certain if this incident will have lasting effects. For now, the actor seems to be keeping a low profile, as he has been pictured leaving a Greek restaurant in Glasgow and dining at an Italian restaurant in Edinburgh with his family in the days leading up to the altercation.
The incident, outside OX184, has left many in Edinburgh abuzz, with locals speculating on what could have triggered the altercation. While heated disputes are not uncommon within the Cowgate area, especially at the later end of the evening, this brings a rather unexpected twist to the general city centre drama courtesy of a Hollywood A-lister.
Representatives for LaBeouf have been approached for comment on the incident but thus far, no official statement has been released. As the actor continued to enjoy and take part in all the ups and downs that come with public life, one thing remained certain: Shia LaBeouf is never very far from the spotlight-be it on or off the screen.
