Disney Star Felt Paid Half of Male Co-star

Christy Carlson Romano, a former Disney Channel star, has opened up about her experiences in her new memoir, detailing instances of unequal pay during her childhood career. Romano claims that during the run of the show Even Stevens from 2000 to 2003, she earned half the salary of her male co-lead, Shia LaBeouf, despite having the same screen time.

Further insights into this disparity emerged when Romano shared a letter from her mother to her agent in 2000. In the letter, her mother advocated for equal pay, stating LaBeouf earned $12,000 per episode while Romano received $6,000. Romano's earnings were crucial for the family's financial stability at the time, as they were deep in debt.

Romano emphasized that her memoir is not about blaming LaBeouf or other famous names, but rather about her personal journey of growing up too fast in an industry that undervalued her. She highlighted her mother's efforts to secure fair compensation, acknowledging the difficult position her family was in.

Reflecting on her relationship with LaBeouf, Romano described their contrasting upbringings and personalities, noting they were like "oil and water." Despite these differences, she acknowledged LaBeouf's drive and legendary status for independently securing representation at a young age, recognizing his challenging childhood.