Christy Carlson Romano Subtly Shades 'Even Stevens' Costar Shia LaBeouf After Arrest Drama

The actress appeared to distance herself from her former costar after his recent arrest in New Orleans.

Feb. 23, 2026 at 9:23am

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Christy Carlson Romano, who starred alongside Shia LaBeouf on the Disney Channel series "Even Stevens", appeared to subtly shade her former costar after he was arrested in New Orleans on two counts of battery. Romano shared a cryptic Instagram video where she lip-synced the phrase "I'm not involved. You made that very clear", hinting at the distance between the two actors.

Why it matters

Romano and LaBeouf's characters on "Even Stevens" were known for their close sibling relationship, so the apparent distance between the two actors is noteworthy. This incident highlights the challenges that child stars can face in maintaining relationships as they grow older and their careers take different paths.

The details

LaBeouf, 39, was arrested in New Orleans on Monday, February 16, for reportedly causing a disturbance and becoming increasingly aggressive at a local restaurant, allegedly striking an unidentified person multiple times. Just two days later, Romano, 41, shared an Instagram video where she appeared to distance herself from her former costar, lip-syncing the phrase "I'm not involved. You made that very clear." In her caption, Romano also mentioned having "bigger [fish] to fry", referencing her recent cancer scare.

  • LaBeouf was arrested in New Orleans on Monday, February 16, 2026.
  • Romano shared the cryptic Instagram video on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, two days after LaBeouf's arrest.

The players

Christy Carlson Romano

An actress who starred alongside Shia LaBeouf on the Disney Channel series "Even Stevens" from 2000 to 2003.

Shia LaBeouf

An actor who starred alongside Christy Carlson Romano on the Disney Channel series "Even Stevens" from 2000 to 2003. He was recently arrested in New Orleans on two counts of battery.

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What they’re saying

“When they ask you about your old costar, but you've stopped 'inserting yourself,'”

— Christy Carlson Romano

“I'm not involved. You made that very clear.”

— Christy Carlson Romano

The takeaway

This incident highlights the challenges that child stars can face in maintaining relationships as they grow older and their careers take different paths. While Romano and LaBeouf once shared a close on-screen bond, their apparent distance now suggests the difficulty of preserving those connections over time, especially in the face of personal and professional challenges.