Shia LaBeouf's "Even Stevens" Co-Star Claims He Was Competitive With Hilary Duff

Shia LaBeouf's former co-star on the Disney Channel series "Even Stevens" has claimed that the actor was highly competitive during their time on the network, even going so far as to "trash-talk" Hilary Duff's rival show, "Lizzie McGuire."

Christy Carlson Romano, who played LaBeouf's sister on "Even Stevens," shared these remarks during a recent appearance on The Joe Vulpis Podcast. She stated that LaBeouf, now 40, "was definitely beefing" with Duff, who starred as the titular character in "Lizzie McGuire."

"Hilary had no clue about that. I'm sure she was doing her own thing, but he would always be kind of like trash-talking Lizzie McGuire," Romano said. She recalled telling LaBeouf, "We don't know anything about them. Like why are you..."

Romano explained LaBeouf's competitive drive stemmed from his desire for "Even Stevens" to be the number one show on the network, suggesting that his career and personal stability were closely tied to the show's success due to a difficult upbringing.

"Even Stevens" aired for three seasons from 2000 to 2003, while "Lizzie McGuire" ran for two seasons from 2001 to 2004, and also spawned a film in 2003.

Romano also discussed her current relationship with LaBeouf, stating that they do not keep in touch and she does not feel the need to reconnect with him. "I should be honest with you – I don't really want to talk to him," she admitted. While she wishes him well and roots for his successes, she also prays for him during difficult times, acknowledging that they impacted each other as children.

Earlier in May, Romano also revealed that she was paid half of LaBeouf's salary during their time on "Even Stevens." She posted a letter allegedly written by her mother to her agent in September 2000, indicating that she earned $6,000 per episode while LaBeouf received $12,000. Romano clarified that while she felt LaBeouf earned his wage, her family was struggling financially at the time, and her paycheck was essential for keeping them afloat. She expressed that her mother was advocating for her, but she also wished she could have just been a child without the financial pressures.