Shia LaBeouf and neo-Nazis may be worlds apart ideologically, but they have one thing in common: they have gained a reputation for not being afraid to draw attention to themselves in the weeks following the election.
Bring the two into conflict with each other, and internet chaos ensues.
Since the inauguration of Donald Trump, LaBeouf has been camped out in front of the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, New York, where he’s been hosting a livestream/art installation called “He Will Not Divide Us.” LaBeouf has been interacting with people passing by on the stream and encouraging groups that gather to chant “he will not divide us” in unison. He plans to run the stream for the entirety of Trump’s presidency.
But the installation has become the target of internet trolls, Trump supporters, and neo-Nazis on sites like 4chan, which has hosted chat rooms planning to disrupt the livestream, according to BuzzFeed News. People have since assembled in front of the stream holding signs with Pepe The Frog (a symbol of the alt-right movement) and “Make America Great Again.” On Sunday, a man got close to LaBeouf and began shouting Nazi rhetoric on the stream until LaBeouf chased him off.
Shia LaBeouf has near meltdown after Trump supporter shows up to his 4-year protest livestream pic.twitter.com/Zn9O9Z9GGQ
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 22, 2017
Finally, at 12:30 a.m. Thursday, LaBeouf was arrested on misdemeanor assault charges after he reportedly pushed an unidentified 25-year-old man. But an unofficial Twitter account for the “He Will Not Divide Us” installation posted a video showing a man yelling “Hitler did nothing wrong” at LaBeouf before getting pushed away. The actor’s supporters claim that LaBeouf was arrested for this exchange, though police have yet to confirm.
The incident has created a hashtag in support of LaBeouf called #FreeShia, which asserts that the actor, who is of Jewish descent, was justified in his actions after being faced with Nazi rhetoric.
Neo-Nazi says “Hitler did nothing wrong” to Shia LaBeouf and got pushed. Now is getting criticized for pushing him.#HeWillNotDivideUs pic.twitter.com/SVFO2MtlvJ
— #HeWillNotDivideUs (@HWNDUS) January 26, 2017
The Nazi who shot an ANTIFA at a Milo protest was released with no charges.
Shia LaBeouf, a Jewish man, got a DAT for shoving a Nazi.#ACAB— benny • ?’ני (@bennykoval) January 26, 2017
My Boy Shia Done Did His Time Already, We Need To Free This Man #FreeShia pic.twitter.com/nKWIgrS6XN
— Chill Vibes (@Icey_Flake) January 26, 2017
A Jewish man gets detained for defending himself against a Nazi. This is in 2017. This is Trump’s America. #FreeShia
— ???????? (@MadeForNirvana) January 26, 2017
Let me get this straight. You arrested a peaceful protestor but not the neo-nazi that came to antagonize? Ok. #FREESHIA #hewillnotdivideus
— #hewillnotdivideus (@xwithmywoes) January 26, 2017
Others, however, criticized LaBeouf for his actions.
i know shia labeouf means well but doesn’t he look like some type of cult leader around these people lllmmaaooo pic.twitter.com/oRVOKblp5q
— Ahmed/Sampha Stan (@big_business_) January 26, 2017
Shia LaBeouf being arrested for clocking a Trumpfan in front of his “He Will Not Divide Us” livecam has broken the concept of irony forever.
— Jeff B/DDHQ (@EsotericCD) January 26, 2017
