Shia LaBeouf Says Mel Gibson Taught Him A Valuable Lesson
Did he really?
Shia LaBeouf has turned in some terrific performances throughout his career. His work in the film Honey Boy earned the actor multiple award nominations and wins, including 2019’s Breakthrough Screenwriter for the Hollywood Film Awards. Despite being an award-caliber performer, many still remember the actor’s off-set antics and abuse allegations. The actor converted to Catholicism while working on the film Padre Pio, which could’ve contributed to LaBeouf apologizing for his past behavior. He also credited his experiences attending traditional Latin Mass services with his newfound appreciation for life and forgiveness. During an appearance on the Catholic web series Bishop Barron Presents, LaBeouf explained that his introduction to Latin Mass came from actor Mel Gibson.
In the interview, the actor spoke about not knowing how to find his way to Latin Mass. Shia LaBeouf’s meeting with Mel Gibson ultimately led him to start attending the event populated with traditionalist Catholics. Gibson, whose passion and history with Christianity led him to create The Passion Of The Christ, has dealt with his own personal trials in the past. LaBeouf admitted that the introduction to Latin Mass instilled in him humility. In Padre Pio, the actor portrays the Italian monk who became famous for exhibiting stigmata throughout his life. LaBeouf became aware of the massive pressure that came with portraying such an individual and walking into an event populated by Catholics. The more time he spent there, the more comfortable he was in his own skin.
Shia LaBeouf and Mel Gibson’s past behaviors are well documented. Both actors have dealt with the public reaction to their views regarding religion. In a 2004 interview with Diane Sawyer, Gibson said that he believed non-Catholics and non-Christians can go to heaven. During the filming of The Passion of the Christ, Gibson had daily visits from local priests and priests from the Institute of Christ King. In 2010, he was blacklisted by Hollywood following a leaked phone recording of him harassing Russian singer-songwriter, and ex-girlfriend, Oksana Petrovna Grigorieva. He’d return to Hollywood with his 2016 award-winning directorial effort, Hacksaw Ridge. Gibson’s trials and tribulations perhaps may’ve inspired LaBeouf to seek a better path for himself. Following several abuse and legal issues, the actor had difficulty finding work. After taking major big profile roles in franchises such as Transformers and Indiana Jones, LaBeouf decided to take on dramatic roles that challenged him.
The 36-year-old actor was in the news recently due to all the drama surrounding Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling. After initially being cast in the project, he was later fired by Wilde. In a recent interview, LaBeouf claimed that he quit the project despite Wilde’s best efforts to keep him onboard. Regardless of his departure, the actor still has some interesting projects coming down the pipeline. Although Shia LaBeouf and Mel Gibson won’t appear together in a film within the next year or so, perhaps LaBeouf’s newfound view of life and forgiveness will convince him to work with Gibson someday. As of now, those interested in what LeBeouf does next will have to wait for his next outing in director Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis.
