Amanda Seyfried found herself in a bit of a controversy following her recent involvement in a documentary about Elizabeth Holmes, which sparked considerable backlash online.
Viewers were caught off guard when Seyfried appeared in “You Can See Everything,” a documentary chronicling the final 34 days of Holmes before she began her prison sentence on May 30, 2023, at Federal Prison Camp Bryan.
In the film, Seyfried reflected on her previous role as Holmes in Hulu’s “The Dropout.” Released on October 16, the documentary delved into Seyfried’s changing outlook on Holmes, touching on aspects of her personal life and her relationship with Billy Evans. Seyfried revisited her portrayal during conversations with Nathan Fielder, who aimed to recreate his exchanges with Holmes post-sentencing.
Throughout the documentary, Seyfried wrestled with feelings of sympathy for Holmes, even as the convicted fraudster critiqued how she was represented in the Hulu series.
“Amanda Seyfried defending Holmes as a victim of male manipulation until Holmes accused her of participating in a sensationalized version of the Theranos scandal and then flipping out about how it is just TV was a truly gross,” a viewer expressed on X. It’s quite a statement, really.
Others chimed in, suggesting that Seyfried seemed to pivot her stance once criticism shifted toward her involvement in dramatizing the Theranos story.
One comment pointed out, “Lots of ‘women protecting women’ posturing from her until she gets accused of perhaps also causing Elizabeth some degree of pain, after which she immediately deflects… it was quite something to watch.”
Yet not all the comments were negative. Some defended Seyfried, arguing that her evolving perspective on Holmes aligned with the documentary’s broader theme of shifting perceptions.
“Imagine walking away from this blaming Amanda Seyfried,” one user remarked. “The point is, everyone changes their opinion on Elizabeth Holmes, so does Nathan, and so does the audience—that’s the whole point.”
Another supporter added, “At no point in the movie does Elizabeth Holmes reckon with how anyone other than her was harmed by the downfall of Theranos. Amanda Seyfried earnestly reckons with the consequences of her actions, even when she seems rightfully certain she hasn’t done anything wrong.”
Holmes, who was convicted in January 2022 on four felony fraud counts for misleading investors, is serving an 11-year sentence after her downfall as the founder of Theranos.
“You Can See Everything” explores Holmes’ attempts to regain control of her public persona amid the dramatic fallout that came after her company’s collapse. The film sheds light on her struggles against a backdrop of intense scrutiny and examines the complex dynamics between her self-image and public perception.
