Christy Carlson Romano stated on The Joe Vulpis Podcast that her former Even Stevens co-star Shia LaBeouf frequently trash-talked Hilary Duff over ratings competition between their respective Disney Channel series during their early television careers.
Romano Reveals Pay Gap and Distance from LaBeouf
Strict Compensation Disparities: Romano disclosed in her memoir, Once Upon a Trainwreck: The Rise and Fall of a Child Star, that she earned half of LaBeouf’s $12,000 per episode salary on Even Stevens despite equal screen time.
One-Sided Industry Rivalries: Romano noted that LaBeouf’s competitive behavior stemmed from a difficult upbringing and a personal reliance on the show’s commercial success.
Current Professional Distance: Both former child stars have maintained separate career paths, with Romano confirming she no longer maintains contact with LaBeouf.
Ratings Pressures on the Disney Channel
During her appearance on The Joe Vulpis Podcast, Romano recalled that LaBeouf maintained a constant, one-sided rivalry with Duff because Duff’s series, Lizzie McGuire, competed directly with Even Stevens for viewership numbers on the network. Romano and LaBeouf played brother and sister Ren and Louis Stevens on the Disney Channel series, which ran from 2000 to 2003. “Hilary had no clue about that,” Romano stated during the podcast interview. “I’m sure she was doing her own thing, but he would always be kind of like trash-talking Lizzie McGuire.”
Romano explained that LaBeouf’s fixation on ratings stemmed from financial and personal instability during his youth. “He had a rough upbringing and I think, like, he needed that show to do well for him,” Romano said. She characterized him as intensely competitive and driven by the necessity of anchoring a top-rated program.
Memoir Disclosures on Pay Disparities
The podcast appearance coincided with the October 6 release of Romano’s memoir, Once Upon a Trainwreck: The Rise and Fall of a Child Star published by S&S/Simon Element. In the book and an accompanying Instagram post, Romano detailed the wage gap between herself and her co-lead. A letter from her mother to an agent in 2000 revealed that LaBeouf earned $12,000 per episode, while Romano earned $6,000 for equal screen time.
Despite the financial discrepancy, Romano emphasized that LaBeouf “earned every dollar” of his compensation. She clarified that her memoir is not primarily about LaBeouf or other high-profile co-stars, but rather about the structural realities of the child entertainment industry. “They were part of my story. They were never the story,” Romano stated. “The story is a girl who grew up too fast and a business that decided she was worth half.”
| Cast Member | Role | Per-Episode Salary | Air Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shia LaBeouf | Louis Stevens | $12,000 | 2000–2003 |
| Christy Carlson Romano | Ren Stevens | $6,000 | 2000–2003 |
Current Relationship Status
Romano, 42, and LaBeouf, 40, are no longer in communication. Romano stated that she maintains neutral feelings toward her former co-star despite the lack of an ongoing relationship. “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.”
