Shia LaBeouf was not being a jerk at the Oscars.
Though some believed he was laughing at “Peanut Butter Falcon” star Zack Gottsagen, who has Down syndrome, as they presented together at the ceremony Sunday, the actor’s mother says otherwise.
“I would hate to see any misconception out there,” Shelley Gottsagen told TooFab Monday. “Shia is just wonderful, you know, we really love him. If anything, I think they were grinning because it was hard to get the envelope open.”
She went on to say that the 33-year-old former “Even Stevens” star would “never” laugh at her 34-year-old son, and the pair has a “really, really beautiful” friendship and LaBeouf will “really seek out opportunities for Zack.”
While presenting the award for Best Live-Action Short Film, Gottsagen became the first person with Down syndrome to present at the ceremony.
“It upset me when I thought that somebody was thinking that Shia could have ever had a kind of negative attitude because he’s been nothing, nothing, nothing but supportive,” she explained.
Last year, LaBeouf and Zack became close friends while filming “The Peanut Butter Falcon,” a present-day retelling of Mark Twain’s character, Huckleberry Finn, which became the year’s highest-grossing independent film after earning $20 million at the box office, according to Variety.
After reading the nominees Sunday, LaBeouf could be seen tapping Gattsagen’s elbow, a silent reminder for him to open the envelope containing the winner, which LaBeouf then gently tried to help him do.
The “Disturbia” star smiled nervously as Gottsagen began to read the winner, which LaBeouf completed, announcing “The Neighbors’ Widow” had won, rather than the correct title, “The Neighbors’ Window.”
Though some accused the former child star of mocking his friend, others, like “Honey Boy” director Alma Har’el quickly refuted the allegations.
“Shia was offered to present an Oscar,” she tweeted Sunday. “He said he would do it if he can share that moment with his beloved co-star Zach [sic] Gottsagen who we all adore. It’s stressful up there…”
Last year LaBeouf even credited Gottsagen with saving him during a “twisted” time following the Disney Channel veteran’s 2017 arrest for public drunkenness.
“Shia promised Zack that he wouldn’t drink anymore,” said Gottsagen’s mother. “And he’s never had [alcohol] since that day, which is really remarkable.”
