Christy Carlson Romano Claims Shia LaBeouf Had One-Sided Feud with Hilary Duff

Christy Carlson Romano, co-star of the Disney Channel series "Even Stevens," has revealed that her former castmate Shia LaBeouf harbored a one-sided animosity towards Hilary Duff, star of the competing Disney show "Lizzie McGuire."

Romano shared on "The Joe Vulpis Podcast" that LaBeouf frequently spoke negatively about "Lizzie McGuire" due to its performance in the ratings compared to "Even Stevens." According to Romano, Duff was likely unaware of LaBeouf's sentiments, as she "had no clue about that" and was probably focused on her own work.

Romano described LaBeouf as "very competitive," attributing his intense focus on "Even Stevens" success to his upbringing. "He had to be the number one show because I think his life depended on that show doing well," Romano stated. "He had a rough upbringing and I think, like, he needed that show to do well for him."

LaBeouf and Romano starred as siblings Ren and Louis Stevens on "Even Stevens," which aired from 2000 to 2003. In Romano's recently released memoir, "Once Upon a Trainwreck: The Fall and Rise of a Child Star," she detailed discrepancies in their on-set compensation. She claimed she was paid half of LaBeouf's salary, despite having equal screen time as co-leads. Romano shared a letter from her mother to her agent from 2000, indicating LaBeouf earned $12,000 per episode while she received $6,000.

Despite the pay disparity, Romano expressed that LaBeouf "earned every dollar." She emphasized that her memoir's narrative centers on her own experiences as a child star navigating the entertainment industry, stating, "The story is a girl who grew up too fast and a business that decided she was worth half."

Romano has stated that she is no longer in contact with LaBeouf and does not wish to be, though she holds no ill will. "When good stuff happens to him, I root for him. If bad stuff happens, I pray for him," she said. "But at the same time, like, I don’t need to know him."