Shia Labeouf Sorry for Vilifying His Father To Promote Movie' Honey Boy'

Shia LaBeouf Honey Boy Shia LaBeouf father Real Ones with Jon Bernthal child abuser Jeffrey Craig LaBeouf Vietnam war veteran Shayna Saide LaBeouf rehab facility chronic obstructive pulmonary disease sobriety FKA Twigs catholic Padre Pio Franciscan Capuchin friar

By Lili Scott , Parent Herald Sep 01, 10:01 am

Shia LaBeouf has admitted that his depiction of his father in the movie "Honey Boy" was all made up and that he was sorry for vilifying his dad.

During a podcast interview on the "Real Ones with Jon Bernthal," LaBeouf said he wrote a completely different narrative about his father to drum up the buzz for "Honey Boy." He admitted he played himself out to be a victim during the press tour. The actor said he had wronged his dad by depicting him as a child abuser when his father laid a finger on him only once to spank him as a misbehaving teen.

LaBeouf said his father discussed the discrepancies in the script he received versus what came out in the movie. The actor said he succeeded in fooling his dad because he needed him to sign off on the script.

Making amends with his father

Jeffrey Craig LaBeouf is a Vietnam war veteran who was also into performing arts. His wife, Shayna Saide LaBeouf, is also a visual artist and designs jewelry. Shia's parents divorced when he was around three years old.

Shia said that his parents exposed him to the arts growing up, which drove him to become an actor. The family, however, lived in poverty, which Shia believes contributed to his parents' divorce.

When Shia was nine years old, his father entered a rehab facility as he became addicted to heroin, per SportsKeeda. In 2019, Jeffrey said in an interview that the script he got for "Honey Boy" was nothing like that story that came out in the movie. Despite this, Jeffrey said he hoped Hollywood would see his son's talents as an amazing writer and artist.

Shia said that he stayed in Utah for some time in the last two years to make up with his dad, who was also dealing with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. LaBeouf said he's taking accountability for his actions after staying 627 days sober. His father is also working on his sobriety.

The actor's sobriety comes as LaBeouf has been sued by his former girlfriend, FKA Twigs, for physical, mental, and emotional abuse in 2020. The actor, however, is challenging and refuting the lawsuit and some specific allegations laid out by Twigs.

Shia LaBeouf, now a Catholic

Meanwhile, Shia is currently promoting "Padre Pio," the film about the Franciscan Capuchin friar who became a saint. The actor said that the project came at the darkest point in his life when he was filled with thoughts of suicide and shame.

In researching the movie, Shia said he was struck and in awe by Padre Pio's mindset of serving God. He realized that God was also using his ego to turn to Him, so he had himself baptized as a Catholic by the friars he was immersed with for some months in preparation for the movie, according to Fox News.