Piers Morgan slams LaBeouf's 'grotesque' rape claim

Shia LaBeouf claims a woman raped him on Valentine's Day during a week-long art installation. Photo / AP

Piers Morgan has condemned actor Shia LaBeouf's "outrageous 'rape' claim", writing that it "demeans real rape victims" and was "ridiculous" on Twitter.

The former British newspaper editor turned US commentator posted the remarks on the social media site last night, adding in a stream of tweets that LaBoeuf had "invented a supposed 'rape' for cheap PR" and that he was "lying".

"Shia LaBeouf's claim to have been 'raped' is truly pathetic & demeans real rape victims. Grow up, you silly little man."

LaBeouf sat there with a paper bag on his head doing & saying nothing as he was 'raped' - because he was engaged in 'performance art'? BS.

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 30, 2014

On Friday, the 23-year-old American actor claimed that a woman had sexually assaulted him during his performance installation #IAMSORRY in an LA Gallery.

As social media reacted, Morgan continued to tweet: "People are actually defending Shia LaBeouf. The world's gone mad. He's invented a supposed 'rape' for cheap PR - utterly shameful."

However, many followers disagreed. Janet Morris wrote: "If he didn't consent to it, it's rape. If anyone should be ashamed, it's people who are saying it wasn't rape."

No, I'm not 'victim blaming' Shia LaBeouf. I'm 'fake victim shaming'. He wasn't raped & his claim is a grotesque insult to real victims.

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 30, 2014

Another user wrote: "I didn't think you could any more ignorant...I was wrong!"

"Why? If it's non-consenting then it doesn't matter how 'major' the offence is, and because he's a man doesn't change anything..."

LaBoeuf alleges the unnamed woman, who had waited in the queue with her boyfriend, entered the room, stripped him, whipped his legs and raped him. He did not respond during the alleged assault on Valentine's Day earlier this year.

So 2 people let LaBeouf's supposed 'rapist' leave? This whole thing is repulsively offensive to real rape victims > http://t.co/E3bECZAkUy

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 30, 2014

His girlfriend of two years, Mia Goth, was also in the queue waiting to see the actor. LaBeouf said word passed back through the crowd about the event, reaching Goth.

"When she came in she asked for an explanation, and I couldn't speak, so we both sat with this unexplained trauma silently. It was painful."

The accusation emerged from a Dazed Digital interview earlier this week.

- The Independent