A 26-year-old man has told of how he was sucker punched over the weekend on New York’s Lower East Side, just because of his close resemblance to actor Shia LaBeouf. Mario Licato said he was punched in the face and knocked out by the unidentified man, who told him: "This is because you look exactly like Shia LaBeouf!”

Shia LaBeoufA man was attacked in New York because he resembled actor Shia LaBeouf.

Speaking to The Gothamist, Licato described the incident, which happened as he was exiting the F train at Delancey Street. "I was walking up the stairs," Licato said. "I had my head down—there were people in front of me—just to make sure I wasn't going to fall."

“I didn't even see the guy. I just see his fist coming towards me. It knocked me, and while I was falling down the stairs, all I hear was, "This is because you look exactly like Shia LaBeouf!” Licato was knocked unconscious and when he came to his face was covered in blood and his glasses were broken in half.

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A passing couple came to his aid and confirmed to Licato that his attacker had indeed shouted, "This is because you look exactly like Shia LaBeouf!” Licato was eventually attended to by EMTs and police also arrived on the scene to take a statement.

A photo posted by Mario Licato (@mariolicato) on

It’s not the first time the 26-year-old has been mistaken for the actor, according to Licato it’s happened ‘so many times’ before. "That's why I knew I wasn't that crazy. I got it three years ago. I've been stopped on the street before, at least 10 times in my life,” he said.

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"I wanna know what Shia LaBeouf did to him. What did Shia LaBeouf do to him that he punched somebody that looks like him? He must have did something so mean. Did he steal his girlfriend? Did he just see his last performance art piece?”

Licato also posted a picture of his injuries on Instagram, with a message to his attacker. ‘I wanna thank the guy who randomly decided he needed to hit me last night,’ Licato wrote. ‘”This happened bc you look exactly like Shia labeouf". Well sir you boosted my self esteem bc he's p hot.’