It sounds like a scene straight out of a Hollywood drama — but according to Fox News host Jesse Watters, this tense moment was all too real.

On a recent episode of Jesse Watters Primetime, the outspoken political commentator shared an eyebrow-raising story involving actor Shia LaBeouf. Watters claimed that the troubled Hollywood star once cursed him out — in front of his children — at a Delta airport lounge.

And it wasn’t just a casual insult. According to Watters, LaBeouf told him to “go eff yourself,” leaving the conservative host stunned, humiliated, and at a loss for words in front of his family.

This isn’t the first time Watters has told the story, but the timing — during an interview with famed playwright and director David Mamet — couldn’t have been more dramatic. Mamet, who cast LaBeouf in his recent prison drama Henry Johnson, appeared on the show to discuss the film. But the conversation quickly veered off track when Watters brought up his personal grudge.

“Well, Shia LaBeouf told me to go eff myself at a Delta lounge at the airport a couple years ago,” Watters said with a smirk. “So, tell him I said ‘hi’. Will you do that for me?”

The awkwardness in the studio was palpable, but Mamet chuckled it off, choosing not to comment on LaBeouf’s alleged behavior.

A Confrontation Years in the Making

While the film Henry Johnson centers on a man trying to do the right thing — only to spiral into chaos behind bars — Watters’ account painted a very different picture of LaBeouf off-screen.

According to the Fox News host, the incident happened years ago, though he didn’t provide a specific date. He originally spoke about it back in 2019 while guest-hosting The Ingraham Angle. At the time, the story was slightly different — or at least, the insults were.

“I think it was him,” Watters said on air. “He called me ‘trash’ right in front of my kids.”

So which was it — “trash” or “go eff yourself”? Has the story changed over time, or did LaBeouf simply have that much to say to Watters?

Either way, it’s clear the moment left a lasting impression.

Shia LaBeouf: The Making of a Hollywood Rebel

The alleged outburst adds yet another layer to the complicated persona of Shia LaBeouf.

Once one of the most bankable young stars in Hollywood, LaBeouf’s journey from Disney darling to disgraced antihero has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. He first rose to fame on the Disney Channel’s Even Stevens, then gained critical acclaim for his role in Holes. By 2007, he had blockbuster hits under his belt, including Transformers and Disturbia.

But with fame came friction. LaBeouf’s real-life story quickly began to overshadow his on-screen success. He’s been arrested multiple times, entered rehab, and faced serious abuse allegations from ex-girlfriend and singer FKA Twigs — accusations he has denied.

And now, if Watters is to be believed, we can add “airport lounge verbal assault” to the list.

Watters: No Stranger to Controversy

Of course, Watters himself is no stranger to polarizing headlines.

The 47-year-old conservative pundit is known for stirring the pot on topics ranging from race to gender to conspiracy theories. He has made waves with his commentary on masculinity, his disdain for liberal viewpoints, and even his strained relationship with his own mother, who he frequently jokes voted for President Biden.

Last Thanksgiving, Watters publicly lamented that his mother didn’t invite him to dinner, saying, “She didn’t want to talk politics with me — and I’m her son!”

So, was LaBeouf’s alleged outburst just a spontaneous act of rebellion — or a calculated dig at a man known for antagonizing half the country?

Two Public Figures, One Very Public Grudge

What makes this story so fascinating isn’t just the name-dropping. It’s the sheer absurdity of it: a former Disney star, now known for his artistic volatility, publicly confronting a primetime news anchor in the most mundane of places — a Delta Sky Lounge.

It’s unclear whether LaBeouf remembers the confrontation, or whether he’d confirm it even happened. So far, there’s been no public comment from the actor or his team.

But Watters clearly hasn’t forgotten. The memory, it seems, lingers — not just because of the insult, but because of who it came from.

In a media landscape dominated by spin, fake news, and viral soundbites, there’s something undeniably juicy about a Hollywood celebrity and a cable news host clashing — not on air, not at a gala, but over snacks and sparkling water in an airport lounge.

The drama practically writes itself.