Former child star Shia LaBeouf is no stranger to controversy. Coming into prominence with his leading role on the Disney Channel comedy, Even Stevens, the actor has spent the past two decades in the public eye, for better or worse.
Recently, the star has admitted that Honey Boy, a film based on LaBeouf's life, featured abuse sequences that were largely made up.
Over the years, LaBeouf has dealt with alcoholism, as well as a number of arrests and charges for crimes such as theft and violent behavior.
Writing the screenplay as part of a rehabilitation program, LaBeouf later turned it into a feature film, which was filmed over the span of a few weeks in 2018.
Releasing in 2019, Honey Boy follows a narrative that, until now, was assumed to closely relate back to LaBeouf's childhood stardom, with the actor himself playing a stand-in for his father.
Recently appearing on Real Ones with Jon Bernthal, LaBeouf discussed his real-life upbringing, admitting that none of the abuse that took place in the film actually happened.
LaBeouf played the father of Otis, who was played by Noah Jupe. It dealt with the toxic and abusive relationship the two shared, and was acclaimed for doing so in a meaningful way.
"My dad was so loving to me my whole life," he said. "Fractured, sure. Crooked, sure. Wonky, for sure. But never was not loving, never was not there. He was always there... and I'd done a world press tour about how [expletive] he was as a man."
He continued, "My dad never hit me, never. He spanked me once, one time. And the story that gets painted in Honey Boy is, this dude is abusing his kid all the time."
Both critics and audiences loved the film, with many believing the on-screen portrayals were likely therapeutic in a way for LaBeouf, who could come to terms with the way his childhood progressed.
A huge reason why audiences loved Honey Boy was, in fact, that assumption that the story closely followed LaBeouf's real life. But knowing that this is false definitely changes things.
The film also featured FKA Twigs, who dated LaBeouf shortly after they met on set. After the two broke up, FKA Twigs filed a lawsuit against LaBeouf, claiming he was abusive toward her during their relationship.
