The OGs of Disney Chaos
If you grew up obsessed with Even Stevens, you already know Ren and Louis were total opposites. But according to Christy Carlson Romano, the "oil and water" energy between her and Shia LaBeouf was highkey real off-camera, too. On a recent episode of the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast, Romano got deep about why their childhood vibes were so different.
The Type-A vs. The Venice Beach Kid
Romano, who played the ultra-organized Ren, said her upbringing was pure "Type-A" energy. She was busy doing the New York kid thing—training for Juilliard and following every rule in the book. Her mom called it "cross-training," and it came with a serious price tag.
On the flip side, she described LaBeouf’s childhood as much more intense. She noted that he was a "Venice Beach kind of bum kid," comparing his background to the chaotic, gritty vibe of the 1995 film Kids. Despite their vastly different worlds, Romano gave him his flowers for manifesting his own success, noting that he hustled to find his own manager at just eight years old.
No 'Mount Rushmore' Energy?
This isn't the first time the pair's history has made waves. Earlier this year, Romano made headlines for an X post (that she lowkey deleted) suggesting LaBeouf didn't deserve a spot on the "Disney Mount Rushmore" after Raven-Symoné brought him up as a top-tier icon.
Romano also shared a throwback photo of herself with LaBeouf and his father on set, admitting that while they spent three years in adjoining trailers, they were both struggling through their own painful childhoods. "If only we could have been there for each other," she wrote on Instagram.
Why it matters
Fans have been waiting for the full scoop on their relationship for years, and it looks like we’re finally getting it. Romano is set to spill the tea on everything in her upcoming memoir, Once Upon a Trainwreck: The Fall and Rise of a Child Star, dropping October 6.
