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💡 TLDR
Shia LaBeouf was apparently obsessed with beating Hilary Duff’s ratings and constantly talked smack about her behind the scenes. To make it even wilder, Christy Carlson Romano revealed she was paid only half of what he made per episode!
Christy Carlson Romano just dropped some serious tea regarding the messy reality of being a Disney Channel star in the early 2000s. While Even Stevens felt lighthearted on screen, things behind the scenes between her co-star Shia LaBeouf and Lizzie McGuire icon Hilary Duff were reportedly tense. During a recent appearance on The Joe Vulpis Podcast, Romano revealed that LaBeouf had a massive, one-sided beef with Duff because of their competing ratings.
A Competitive Drive Driven by Chaos
According to Romano, LaBeouf was incredibly competitive about his show’s success compared to Duff’s hit series. She noted that while Hilary was totally oblivious to the drama, LaBeouf was constantly talking smack about Lizzie McGuire. It wasn’t just about ego, though; Romano suggested there was something much deeper driving his need to be number one. He had to be the number one show because I think his life depended on that show doing well. She attributed this intense pressure to his rough upbringing.
💫 He had to be the number one show because I think his life depended on that show doing well.
The tension clearly extended beyond just rating wars. Now 42, Romano made it very clear that she has zero interest in reconnecting with the 40-year-old actor. She mentioned she is perfectly fine not being in contact with him, noting that while she roots for him when things go well, she doesn’t actually need him in her life.
The Pay Gap That Defined Her Childhood
While the LaBeouf drama is juicy, Romano is also busy promoting her new memoir, Once Upon a Trainwreck: The Rise and Fall of a Child Star, which released October 6. In the book, she gets real about the massive pay disparity she faced while playing Ren Stevens. Even though she and LaBeouf were co-leads with equal screen time, an Instagram post from earlier this month revealed a letter her mom, Sharon, sent to her agent back in 2000. It turns out LaBeouf was making $12,000 per episode while she only saw $6,000.
Despite the sting of being paid half of what her male co-star earned, Romano isn’t using the book to shade him. She insists he earned every dollar and clarified that while these people were part of her journey, they weren’t the main focus. Instead, she says her story is “a girl who grew up too fast and a business that decided she was worth half.”
Did you grow up watching Even Stevens, or were you strictly on Team Lizzie McGuire?
❓ People Also Ask
Why did Shia LaBeouf dislike Hilary Duff?
Shia LaBeouf reportedly had a one-sided beef with Hilary Duff because of their competing television ratings. Christy Carlson Romano explained that LaBeouf felt an intense competitive drive to ensure his show was the number one success on the network. This pressure was likely driven by his difficult upbringing, making the show's performance feel vital to his well-being. While LaBeouf was frequently talking smack about Lizzie McGuire, Hilary Duff remained completely oblivious to the behind-the-scenes tension and drama.
What was the pay gap between Christy Carlson Romano and Shia LaBeouf?
Christy Carlson Romano earned only half of what her Even Stevens co-star Shia LaBeouf was paid per episode. While the two actors were co-leads with equal screen time, LaBeouf earned $12,000 for every episode filmed. In contrast, Romano received just $6,000 per episode during her time on the Disney Channel series. This significant pay disparity was highlighted through a letter sent by her mother to her agent back in the year 2000.
How does Christy Carlson Romano feel about reconnecting with Shia LaBeouf?
Christy Carlson Romano has no interest in reconnecting with Shia LaBeouf and is perfectly content not being in contact with him. Although she mentioned that she roots for him when things are going well in his life, she does not feel a need to have him in her personal life today. Now 42 years old, she has made it clear that while they were part of her childhood journey, she is moving forward without him.
What is Christy Carlson Romano's new memoir about?
Christy Carlson Romano's new memoir, titled Once Upon a Trainwreck: The Rise and Fall of a Child Star, explores her experiences growing up in the spotlight. Released on October 6, the book discusses the realities of being a child actor and the unfair business practices she encountered. She specifically focuses on her journey as a girl who grew up too fast and the industry that decided her professional worth was only half of her male counterparts.
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📰 Source: Page Six