He was videotaped several years ago calling his friend "faggot", and now that the footage already emerged online he said he's "embarrassed" the clip is being seen by anyone.
- June 11, 2008
AceShowbiz -
He initially meant it as a joke way back before he became an acclaimed actor in Hollywood. Unfortunately, the word 'faggot' he addressed to a friend on the camera comes back to haunt Shia LaBeouf now that he's a prominent figure in movie industry.
A video footage, shows Shia participating in a sophomoric slapping contest with a friend during an apparent boozy house party, already made its way all over the net Tuesday, June 10. The clip initially emerged on YouTube and Brightcove but has since been pulled.
In the video, Shia was overheard calling his taller friend a "faggot" and then begging the friend to smack him. At the end of the clip, as claimed by Defamer.com, a girl's voice was overheard saying, "I need that video."
And while several major sites, including PerezHilton and TMZ, have also removed the video, the one displayed on Defamer.com is still available to roll.
In the wake of the clip's online appearance, Shia quickly issued a statement through his representative, saying "The videotape that is currently being circulated is several years old and captures Shia playing a game among friends in which he uses a derogatory word toward a friend." The representative went on adding, the actor "regrets having used the word in any capacity and is very embarrassed that this footage is being seen by anyone."
