Shia LaBeouf on Marriage to Mia Goth: “It’s Better on the Other Side”
In December 2016, Shia LaBeouf was not the brooding, complicated figure that often dominated tabloid headlines. Instead, he was a newlywed, speaking with unexpected warmth about married life. The actor, best known for his role in Transformers: Dark of the Moon, sat down with E! News and offered a rare glimpse into his private relationship with actress Mia Goth. His words were striking not because they were scandalous, but because they were so openly optimistic.
“It’s better on the other side,” LaBeouf said, reflecting on his new status as a husband. He explained that he had grown up hearing cynical warnings about marriage, and that those warnings had shaped his expectations. “I’ve been lied to my whole life. You always hear these people who are all cynical, like, ‘Ah, man, once you get married everything changes.’ But for the better though!” The quote captured a man who had crossed a threshold and found something far more hopeful than he had been led to believe.
For LaBeouf, the shift in perspective was significant. He had spent much of his career being known as much for his off-screen antics as for his acting. From his early days as a Disney Channel star on Even Stevens to his explosive breakout in the Transformers franchise, he had often seemed restless, rebellious, and at odds with the machinery of Hollywood. But here, in December 2016, he sounded like someone who had found a new anchor. Marriage, he suggested, was not a trap or a compromise. It was a revelation.
The interview with E! News came shortly after LaBeouf and Goth had tied the knot. The couple had managed to keep many details of their relationship out of the spotlight, which was no small feat given LaBeouf’s celebrity. They had been linked for years, and their connection was rooted in a shared willingness to take risks as performers. Goth, an actress and model known for her work in independent films, seemed to understand LaBeouf in a way that the tabloid cameras could not capture. Their relationship had already weathered its share of ups and downs, as the title of the photo gallery that accompanied the article suggested. But in that moment, LaBeouf was focused on the future.
“I’m about to create some new ones,” he said, referring to memories. “My mom will be involved, her mom will be involved. I’ll probably have to do Hanukkah and Christmas and Kwanza and the whole nine.” The comment was endearing in its specificity. LaBeouf was not just talking about love in the abstract. He was talking about the practical, joyful work of building a family. He was imagining holiday dinners, blended traditions, and the presence of both mothers in their lives. It was a vision of marriage that felt grounded and real, far removed from the cynical narratives he said he had been fed his whole life.
The mention of Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa also highlighted the cultural richness of their union. LaBeouf, who has spoken openly about his own complicated family history, seemed eager to embrace a broader, more inclusive family story. He was not daunted by the logistics of multiple holidays or the challenge of merging different backgrounds. If anything, he sounded thrilled by the prospect. “The whole nine” was not a burden; it was an adventure.
At the time, LaBeouf’s enthusiasm was notable because he had often been portrayed as someone who rejected convention. He had staged performance art stunts, walked red carpets with paper bags over his head, and publicly grappled with the pressures of fame. Yet here he was, celebrating marriage with the earnestness of someone who had discovered something genuinely good. The contrast was striking. It suggested that his public persona was only one layer of a more complex person, and that his relationship with Goth had given him a new sense of stability.
Of course, the phrase “ups and downs” in the gallery title was a reminder that no relationship is a straight line. LaBeouf and Goth’s story would continue to evolve in the years that followed, with separations and reconciliations that played out in the public eye. But the December 2016 interview remains a snapshot of a particular moment, one in which LaBeouf allowed himself to be vulnerable and hopeful. He was not performing for the cameras. He was speaking from a place of genuine emotion, and his words resonated with anyone who has ever been surprised by love.
There is also something universal about his observation that “it’s better on the other side.” Many people approach marriage with fear, influenced by stories of divorce, compromise, and lost freedom. LaBeouf’s testimony challenged that narrative. He acknowledged that he had been lied to, not by any particular person, but by a culture that often treats marriage as the end of something rather than the beginning. His experience suggested the opposite: that marriage could be a doorway into a richer life.
The interview also offered a glimpse into how LaBeouf viewed family. His mention of his mother and Goth’s mother indicated that marriage, for him, was not just about the couple. It was about creating an expanded circle of care and connection. He was thinking about the people who would be around the table during the holidays, the traditions they would share, and the memories they would make. That kind of thinking is often absent from celebrity interviews, which tend to focus on projects and red carpets. Here, LaBeouf was talking about something much more personal.
In the years since that interview, both LaBeouf and Goth have continued to navigate the complexities of their personal and professional lives. Goth has emerged as a formidable talent in the horror genre, earning acclaim for films like X and Pearl. LaBeouf has remained a polarizing figure, with his career and personal life subject to intense scrutiny. But the December 2016 quote endures as a reminder of a time when he spoke about love with unguarded optimism.
It is also worth noting that LaBeouf’s comments were made during a period when he seemed to be actively redefining himself. He had moved away from the blockbuster machine that made him a household name and toward more unconventional projects. His relationship with Goth, who was deeply embedded in the world of independent cinema, was part of that shift. In her, he seemed to find a partner who shared his artistic instincts and his willingness to take risks. Their marriage, at least in that moment, felt like a collaboration in the truest sense.
The photo gallery that accompanied the article featured images of the couple from December 2016, including a shot of them together that captured the intimacy of their bond. The image, credited to INF/INSTAR, showed a couple comfortable in each other’s presence. The headline described their relationship as having “ups and downs,” but the photograph suggested something more tender. It was a visual reminder that behind the headlines, there were real people trying to build a life together.
LaBeouf’s words also carry a certain timelessness. “It’s better on the other side” could apply to any major life decision that people approach with fear: becoming a parent, changing careers, committing to another person. His testimony was not just about marriage. It was about the courage to step into the unknown and discover that the unknown is not as scary as it seemed. That message is especially powerful coming from someone who had spent years wrestling with his own demons.
As the interview continued, LaBeouf’s excitement about creating new memories was palpable. He was not looking back. He was looking forward. He was imagining a future in which his family and Goth’s family would come together, not just for holidays, but for the ordinary moments that make up a life. He was embracing the messiness of blended traditions and the joy of shared experiences. It was a beautiful vision, and he articulated it with a sincerity that was hard to fake.
In the end, the December 2016 interview with E! News was more than just a celebrity soundbite. It was a window into a man who had found something worth believing in. LaBeouf had spent years being told that marriage would change everything. He discovered that the people who told him that were right, but not in the way they meant. Marriage did change everything, but for the better. And in that moment, he wanted the world to know it.
