We often encounter edgy personalities and wild spirits around us. Seeing a few of them in the entertainment business is not uncommon. A fascinating story revolves around Hollywood A-lister Ben Affleck, who saw Shia LaBeouf’s rebellious and wild demeanor and tried to mentor him in his career. However, the question remains: Is the Lawless star’s defiant nature something that can be controlled?
Unfortunately, controversies have often eclipsed the now-37-year-old actor. His time in the spotlight has been clouded by a number of potentially career-ending scandals, ranging from plagiarism accusations to his multiple run-ins with the law. The Good Will Hunting actor, however, gave LaBeouf some very sage advice before his problematic behavior began to endanger his career. The former made an effort to “curb” it before a problem arose but Affleck was “unsuccessful”.
Rebellious Shia LaBeouf Received Some Important Pearls Of Wisdom From Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck offered career advice to Shia LaBeouf, the actor disclosed in a conversation with an Interview Magazine. The Zack Snyder’s Justice League star saw that LaBeouf was acting a little strange at the wrap party for the 2003 movie, The Battle of Shaker Heights, and gave him some insightful advice. LaBeouf recalled:
“Ben is a really charming dude. He was the first guy who really took me off to the side and made me feel like I could do it. [He said] ‘Keep your head on straight, kid, and don’t let all this get to you.’”
LaBeouf went on to say that Jennifer Lopez’s husband acknowledged the problem with him and made an unsuccessful attempt to stop it. The Holes star explained:
“He knew that I had cameras in my face and that there were expectations to perform. I think that’s always been my issue,” “Ben saw that I turned reality up to 11. I was a wild man at that wrap party. I was still very edgy and remained so for a long time—and that was sort of my appeal to a lot of directors and casting agents. Ben saw that and was trying to curb it before it became an issue. He was unsuccessful.”
But interestingly enough, both LaBeouf and Affleck share an addiction to alcohol. The former was charged with disorderly conduct, harassment, and criminal trespass after being taken into custody on June 26, 2014, at New York City’s Studio 54 theater. TIME claimed that he voluntarily entered an outpatient alcohol treatment program after that.
Shia LaBeouf and Ben Affleck Shared a History of Addiction
Shia LaBeouf and Ben Affleck have both had their share of ups and downs, publicly admitting to struggles with substance abuse. Their surprising displays of erratic behavior and explosive outbursts have brought attention to their addiction issues, leaving fans both curious and alarmed. LaBeouf acknowledged to Page Six in 2013 that “I am an alcoholic” and that he goes to meetings for Alcoholics Anonymous.
Even as a young child, he had to deal with such challenging circumstances. As per the Esquire report, LaBeouf claimed that his father was “on drugs” and had been admitted to a drug rehab center because of a heroin addiction, while his mother was “trying to hold down the fort”.
Meanwhile, according to the NY Times, Affleck’s drinking problem began when he was fifteen. Having first thought of a residential recovery program, his mother sent him to an Outward Bound wilderness camp for at-risk teenagers. He went through residential treatment for addiction in 2001, and according to the BBC, he stayed sober for a “couple of years” after that.
Addiction, though common in the film industry, is one of the reasons why several of our shining stars fall to the ground. LaBeouf and Affleck are great examples of celebrities who went through the same but rose from the ashes like a phoenix to reclaim worldwide acclaim and applause with their amazing performances.
On the work front, LaBeouf will next be seen in Megalopolis, an epic science fiction drama film written, directed, and produced by Francis Ford Coppola. Meanwhile, Affleck has several projects in the works, including This Is Me…Now: The Film, The Instigators, and Unstoppable.
