Shia LaBeouf and Christy Carlson Romano starred in the children's TV show "Even Stevens " together.- Romano said that there was a "sibling rivalry" between them that led to some "animosity."
- She said she felt jealous of LaBeouf's success and "salty" that her career didn't go the same way.
"Even Stevens" star Christy Carlson Romano wasn't thrilled about how things turned out for her compared to her former costar Shia LaBeouf.
In her own YouTube video titled "Why I Don't Talk to Shia LaBeouf," Romano explained that the pair of them had a "sibling rivalry" that led to "a little bit of animosity" despite starring in the hit children's show for 65 episodes from 2000 to 2003.
Romano highlighted one incident that left her feeling particularly jarred by LaBeouf: when the actor didn't thank her when he won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series in 2003.
"He was on the podium. I was sitting there with the rest of our team, and he thanked like everybody at the table. But he didn't thank me," Romano said.
"I was hurt at the time because I felt like since day one it was him and me. It was, like, our show. But because it was so life or death or him, it was his show and I was just like around because I was a girl."
The actress, who also voiced Kim Possible in the Disney Channel animated series, continued: "For a while, I think the ghost of who Shia was and who he became was really frustrating for me. I didn't watch any of his movies. I couldn't. I couldn't bring myself to watch them."
After "Even Stevens" ended, LaBeouf went on to star in multiple big movies, including the "Transformers" franchise, plus "Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull," "Fury," "Honey Boy," and "Pieces of a Woman."
Meanwhile, Romano starred in a smattering of lesser-known movies, some of which were direct-to-video releases. Romano said she felt as if LaBeouf had gotten luckier than her by securing himself a better manager than she did.
"I was a bit salty," Romano said. "So, I kind of felt a little jilted by the whole situation... Here he is, making a big old splash in Hollywood. And here I am. I chose to go to college. And there's consequences that come [with] that but, like, there was definitely an undercurrent of regret, but also an undercurrent of comparison. Sibling rivalry, if you will."
Romano studied Film Studies at Barnard College and had her own novel published in 2006, as well as a limited music career with Disney, including the album, "Greatest Disney TV & Film Hits."
However, Romano said these "salty" feelings have "mellowed out" over time and she now doesn't have any ill feelings toward her former costar.
"I guarantee if I saw him walking on the street, there would be a bond there that is undeniable," Romano said. "When you grow up with somebody in that particular way... you're bonded together. You can't help but want to see the person succeed."
It hasn't all been smooth sailing for LaBeouf, whoever, who has consistently found himself at the centre of controversies during his time as a Hollywood star. His most recent controversy came when his ex-girlfriend FKA Twigs accused him of being emotionally and physically abusive toward her in their relationship. Twigs filed a lawsuit against LaBeouf in December last year.
In multiple statements to The New York Times, LaBeouf said he has "been abusive to [himself] and everyone around [him] for years." However, he also said, "many of these allegations are not true."
LaBeouf subsequently took a hiatus from acting and has been seeking treatment.