Los Angeles, CA: Earlier this week, self-proclaimed actor Shia LaBeouf was under fire when it was learned that his critically acclaimed film short, HowardCantour.com, plagiarized the indie comic book Justin M. Damiano, published in 2007 by Ghost World creator Dan Clowes.
While the idea that anything to do with Shia LaBeouf would be considered “critically acclaimed” is still under investigation, the aftermath of the plagiarism has brought about a heart-felt apology by LaBeouf, which was also plagiarized in typical LaBeouf fashion as the actor took to Twitter to state that “Copying isn’t particularly creative work. Being inspired by someone else’s idea to produce something new and different IS creative work.” Unfortunately, that statement plagiarized a statement made on Yahoo! Answers about plagiarism, making the few LaBeouf fans and millions of haters wonder what else about his life has been plagiarized.
Research indicates that even Shia’s name is plagiarized. “Shia” is actually a sect of Islam, while “LaBeouf” very closely resembles the Canadian beer company, “LaBatt.” The actor’s demeanor seems to be plagiarized as well, as his now messy hair and patchy facial hair closely resembles the look of actors such as Johnny Depp and Keanu Reeves.
Shia LaBeouf has since taken to Twitter once again to apologize for his continual plagiarism in every aspect of his life, but also to defend his rights as an inspired artist.
LaBeouf opened with a heartfelt hope that his fans would forgive him of his plagiarism, stating, “I will make my defence, and I will endeavor in the short time which is allowed to do away with this evil opinion of me which you have held for such a long time; and I hope I may succeed, if this be well for you and me, and that my words may find favor with you.”
From there he continued his attempt to denounce his detractors, stating, “Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness.”
While he attempted to explain away his transgressions, LaBeouf did take responsibility for his actions, asking for forgiveness by saying, “It is important to me that everybody who has been hurt know that the sorrow I feel is genuine: First and most important, my family; also my friends, my staff, my Cabinet, Monica Lewinsky and her family, and the American people. I have asked all for their forgiveness.”
However, LaBeouf still had hope for his future and the future of Hollywood, stating, “Even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the Hollywood dream. I have a dream that one day this industry will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all inspired ideas are created equal.'”
Research indicates that even these statements of apology for plagiarizing his apology for plagiarizing the work of Dan Clowes were plagiarized from The Apology of Socrates by Plato, The Great Dictator by Charlie Chaplin, The breakfast apology of Bill Clinton, and the “I Have A Dream” speech of Martin Luther King Jr.