This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
A motorcyclist happened to have his helmet cam rolling when Transformers star Shia LaBeouf pulled him next to him at a stoplight, leading to a brief staredown.
Philip J. Caputo uploaded this 29 second video to YouTube entitled "Shia LaBeouf staring at me in Burbank."
As he wrote in the video description of the brief exchange that went down on Alameda Avenue:
This truck pulls up next to me at a stop light. I can see out of my periphery that the dude is just staring at me. The strange part is that he is in a right turn only lane and should be turning right. Not wanting to make eye contact I ignore him, but the dude is still staring at me. So I look left, just to see what is going on. To balance things out, I then turn and look right. Turns out it was Shia LaBeouf. We exchanged pleasantries, the light turned green, and we drove on.
In the video, LaBeouf gives him a small nod, possibly in acknowledgement that he admires Caputo's motorcycle or he's wondering why the guy has a camera on his helmet.
Caputo asks LaBeouf, "How are you doin'?" then explains he has earplugs in so he can't really hear the actor's reply.
He also uploaded the video to Reddit, where he elaborates on the story.
So I'm on my way home Wednesday. I'm just a few blocks from my office. I usually get stuck at this stop light on the corner of Alameda and Hollywood Blvd. Just across Hollywood is the entrance to the freeway... As I'm sitting there, waiting for the light to turn green, this Chevy Silverado pulls up. I can see out of my peripheral vision that the driver is some dude, and has his head cocked pretty far to the side and is just staring at me.
The staring was kind of strange, but I do have a camera on the side of my helmet and people are curious. I've had people ask me what it is before, and I've told them. Thing is, I'm listening to music and can't hear people talking at a normal voice. So I figure if I just don't look his way, he will just stop staring.
But he doesn't. I'm starting to get uncomfortable, thinking that I've pissed someone off, but I didn't hit anyone getting up to the light. So I decide I'll look left, just to see what is going on, and figure out why this guy isn't turning right. The nice thing about looking left, is that you can then look right to balance it out.
So I look left, about 45 degrees, then look right about 45 degrees. Not wanting to lock eyes with the guy. I was a little surprised when I looked right, as you can see my head turn even sharper to the right when I recognized the guy.
I was like "hey, hows it going" , he was like "good, you?", "Good" I replied... and then the light turned green... In retrospect I should have looked sooner.
I usually say something about earplugs pretty early in a conversation so people will speak up. I just didn't realize the light was going to change so quickly.
The girl in the passenger seat was really smiley and kind of laughing..... so I think it was kind of a prank he was pulling. But I didn't think he was angry or anything based on her reaction to the situation.
That's my story.
Related:
Shia LaBeouf's Neighbors Can Keep Their Paparazzi Barricade
Shia LaBeouf's DUI: Looks Worse Than It Is
