Shia LaBeouf has been in the public eye for some time now, as he started his career as a child actor before transitioning into more serious roles as an adult. As a result of that, there’s a whole generation of viewers who’ve watched LaBeouf grow up in front of the camera. Of course, the former Disney Channel star is far from the only performer who’s in that position, and he’s certainly aware of it. LaBeouf actually mentioned Will Smith, during a recent interview, while explaining how people feel a closeness to both of them in some sense.
Even Stevens essentially served as the vehicle that kicked off LaBeouf’s career in earnest and, even today, the classic sitcom (which is streamable with a Disney+ subscription) remains well loved. LaBeouf referenced the series – which ran for three seasons from 2000 to 2003 – during his viral interview on Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan. Aside from discussing his recent legal matter, the Constantine alum reflected on his professional beginnings and painted a picture of how he sees his relationship with his fans:
Man, I was on Even Stevens. Shit was like, popping hard. If you were a broke kid in America, everybody watched Disney Channel and Nickelodeon, you know what I mean? It was like everybody would just sit at home and watch that thing. So I grew up with everybody. We all grew up together, and that's what it is. So I know what that is.
Like so many members of the general public, LaBeouf himself was also seemingly enamored with some major stars. He illustrated his point during the interview (which was posted to YouTube) by mentioning his own admiration for Will Smith, who he worked with on the 2004 film I, Robot:
Article continues belowIt'd be like me running into Will Smith. [I’d say,] ‘Give me a picture. I grew up with you. You owe it to me. You're my uncle.’ …. He's my fucking uncle, bro. He's It doesn't matter what he I don't give a shit. That's my fucking uncle Will.
While Smith wasn’t literally a kid when he started acting, he was young when he began headlining NBC’s The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1990. The Philadelphia native gained considerable notoriety due to his run on that beloved show (which Hulu subscription holders can stream). From there, like LaBeouf, the rapper-turned-actor made the jump to film and, today, Smith has a large filmography. Speaking more to his own situation, LaBeouf also told Callaghan:
So I'm in this weird category of, I have this familiarity with people and yet I'm trying to do this artist thing, but it's deeper than that ‘cause it's like family. You meet people, they don't give a fuck about art. People just want to hug you ‘cause they're your cousin in a weird way.
Of course, that level of visibility also means fans will see a star’s lows as well as their highs. Shia LaBeouf has made headlines over the years for different legal issues and was most recently arrested in New Orleans and charged with counts of simple battery. The Transformers alum is also at the center of a new lawsuit involving his ex-girlfriend, FKA Twigs. Although Smith hasn’t experienced those kinds of legal situations, he notably received blowback in 2022 after he slapped Chris Rock during the 94th Academy Awards. That led to Smith being banned from Academy events for 10 years.
Yet, at this point, both of the aforementioned actors have already permeated pop culture in such a way that the familiarity Shia LaBeouf laid out remains strong. So, as LaBeouf seems to convey, as time goes on, fans may still feel a connection to him due to his various roles. And, simultaneously, LaBeouf himself is still holding onto that same level of affection for Will Smith.
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