Shia LaBeouf Commissions Skywriting Apology to Daniel Clowes

Shia LaBeouf is looking up to ensure he follows through on his New Year’s resolution.

ANALYSIS: In Defense of Shia LaBeouf

The Charlie Countryman and Nymphomaniac actor — who found himself in the middle of a plagiarism controversy when graphic novelist Daniel Clowes accused LaBeouf of borrowing shamelessly from his 2007 comic, Justin M. Damiano, for the short film Howard Cantour — commissioned an apology to the artist written in the sky on New Year’s Day.

He had the words “I am sorry Daniel Clowes” displayed over the Los Angeles area Jan. 1, and tweeted a photo:

CLOUD: – vapor floating in the atmosphere – remote servers used to SHARE DATA – to make LESS CLEAR or TRANSPARENT pic.twitter.com/jw9JlEi791

— Shia LaBeouf (@thecampaignbook) January 1, 2014

The apologetic gesture seems to be original, as the actor has been ceaselessly tweeting remorseful reflections ever since the controversy first unfolded in mid-December.

However, he began pasting excerpts of other famous apologies from the likes of former New York governor Eliot Spitzer, artist Shepard Fairey and Tiger Woods, to name a few, and was criticized for copying once again.

From Mark Zuckerberg‘s open letter in 2006:

I want to thank all of you who have written in and created groups and protested. Even though I wish I hadn’t made so many of you angry.

— Shia LaBeouf (@thecampaignbook) December 19, 2013

From Russell Crowe‘s apology after tweeting comments on circumcision in 2011:

Personal beliefs aside I realize, some will interpret this as me mocking the rituals and traditions of others, not the case, I am very sorry

— Shia LaBeouf (@thecampaignbook) December 26, 2013

From Alec Baldwin‘s statement on his homophobic comments in November:

I did not intend to hurt or offend anyone with my choice of words, but clearly I have – and for that I am deeply sorry. Words are important.

— Shia LaBeouf (@thecampaignbook) December 20, 2013

On New Year’s Eve, LeBeouf apologized for the lifted apologies, also saying that his 2014 resolution is to “work on being a less controversial tweeter.”

I am sorry for all the plagiarized tweets, they all were unintelligent, ambiguous and needlessly hurtful.

— Shia LaBeouf (@thecampaignbook) December 31, 2013

2014 Resolution – I need to work on being a less controversial tweeter.

— Shia LaBeouf (@thecampaignbook) December 31, 2013

You have my apologies for offending you for thinking I was being serious instead of accurately realizing I was mocking you.

— Shia LaBeouf (@thecampaignbook) December 31, 2013

Twitter: @cashleelee