Amanda Seyfried Faces Online Criticism After Elizabeth Holmes Documentary Appearance

Actress Amanda Seyfried has drawn criticism online following her participation in the documentary "You Can See Everything," which chronicled the final days of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes before her prison sentence began. The documentary, released on October 16, featured Seyfried revisiting her portrayal of Holmes in Hulu's "The Dropout" and exploring her changing views on the convicted fraudster.

In the film, Seyfried, who played Holmes in "The Dropout," worked with Nathan Fielder to recreate conversations he had with Holmes after she reported to federal prison on May 30, 2023. Seyfried's role involved grappling with a growing sympathy for Holmes, even as Holmes herself challenged Seyfried's on-screen depiction of her.

The documentary's exploration of Seyfried's evolving perspective prompted a divided reaction from viewers on social media. Some criticized Seyfried, accusing her of hypocrisy. One X user stated, "Amanda Seyfried defending Holmes as a victim of male manipulation until Holmes accused her of participating in a sensationalized version of the Theranos scandal and then flipping out about how it is just TV was a [sic] truly gross." Others echoed this sentiment, suggesting Seyfried's reaction indicated a shift in her stance when the focus turned to her own role in bringing the Theranos scandal to television.

Conversely, some viewers defended Seyfried, arguing that her changing opinion of Holmes was central to the documentary's narrative. "imagine walking away from this blaming amanda seyfried," one user commented. "the point is, amanda herself changes her opinion on elizabeth holmes. so does nathan fielder. so does the audience. thats the literal point."

Another user supported this view, noting that Seyfried's willingness to re-evaluate her perspective demonstrated a more nuanced understanding of the situation. "At no point in the movie does Elizabeth Holmes reckon with how anyone other than her was harmed by the downfall of Theranos. Amanda Seyfried earnestly reckons with the consequences of her actions even when she is (correctly) pretty sure she didn't do anything wrong."

Elizabeth Holmes was convicted in January 2022 on four federal fraud charges for misleading investors about her blood-testing company, Theranos. She was sentenced in November 2022 to 11 years and three months in federal prison. "You Can See Everything" aimed to examine Holmes' efforts to manage her public image after the collapse of Theranos and explore the discrepancies between her self-perception and public perception.