Shia LaBeouf: The Public Meltdowns Before His Arrest!

Has Transformers star Shia LaBeouf transformed himself into an out-of-control party boy? That's how it looks in the wake of a number of rowdy incidents — culminating in his Nov. 4 Chicago arrest — involving the acclaimed young actor. And insiders believe Shia's lashing out may be caused by a broken heart over ex-girlfriend Rihanna!

On Oct. 14, Star has learned, Shia crashed a wine-tasting event at the Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach, Calif. "Shia and two friends tried cutting the line and entering without paying," says an eyewitness. "He was told he'd have to wait and pay like anyone else, but he started yelling, 'I was in Transformers! Don't you know who I am?' The event sponsor finally said, 'This clown is giving me a headache!' — and a bouncer told him to leave."

Two days later, Shia threw another fit when a doorman failed to recognize him at a T-Mobile Sidekick LX launch party in L.A. And on the evening of Oct. 26, says an eyewitness, Shia "looked trashed" as he swigged vodka straight out of the bottle while "running around" the VIP lounge at Hollywood hotspot Les Deux.

LOVELORN LAD?
Insiders say that Shia has yet to get over being dumped by his gorgeous ex-girlfriend — superstar R&B stunner Rihanna, 19 — and that his recent public fits of anger may be the result of that hurt.

"Shia was crazy about Rihanna, and I think it sent him into a tailspin after she broke it off," a friend of LaBeouf tells Star. "Hopefully, this arrest will be the wakeup call he needs to pull himself together!"

Pick up the new issue of Star — on sale starting Wednesday — for more details and to see Shia's mug shot.