Christy Carlson Romano reveals pay disparity on ‘Even Stevens’

Actress Christy Carlson Romano has disclosed that she received half the salary of her co-star Shia LaBeouf during their time on the Disney Channel sitcom ‘Even Stevens’. In her new memoir, ‘Once Upon a Trainwreck: The Fall and Rise of a Child Star’, Romano details how she was paid $6,000 per episode while LaBeouf earned $12,000, despite both actors serving as co-leads with equal screen time.

Romano shared a letter from her mother, Sharon, sent to her agent in 2000, which advocated for equal pay to help support a household that was deep in debt. Romano noted that while her paycheck helped keep her family afloat, the disparity was a significant part of her experience growing up as a child star. She emphasized that her book focuses on her personal journey and the impact of childhood fame rather than on other celebrities.