Christy Carlson Romano says Mandy Moore made her feel like an outsider at ‘The Princess Diaries’ party

Christy Carlson Romano has recalled an uncomfortable encounter with Mandy Moore at a party celebrating The Princess Diaries in 2000, saying the interaction left her feeling hurt.

During an October 7 appearance on Page Six Radio, the former Disney Channel star described attending the gathering in Malibu while filming the first season of Even Stevens. Romano said her co star Ty Hodges invited her to the event, which she remembered as a wrap party for the Disney film.

Romano explained that she approached Heather Matarazzo, who appeared in The Princess Diaries, because they had previously worked together on an MTV project. However, she said Matarazzo seemed not to remember their earlier meeting.

According to Romano, the situation became more uncomfortable when Moore, who played school bully Lana Thomas in the film, joined the conversation.

“Mandy was next to [Heather] and Mandy kind of did this, like, [laugh],” Romano recalled.

She said the moment upset her and left her unsure how to interpret Moore’s reaction. Romano described her immediate impression by saying, “Mandy’s a mean girl!” She also acknowledged that she had arrived at the party without being an invited guest, explaining, “I did crash that party, man.”

Her account reflects Romano’s recollection of an interaction from more than two decades ago. It does not establish Moore’s intentions, and the supplied report does not include a response from the singer and actress.

The memory also connects to another disappointment Romano has discussed publicly. In a 2021 YouTube video, she revealed that she had been preparing to audition for The Princess Diaries but missed the opportunity because Even Stevens required her to continue filming.

Romano said the audition had felt like a significant career opportunity, particularly because actors could not simply submit recorded auditions at the time.

The actress has recently published her memoir, Once Upon a Trainwreck: The Fall and Rise of a Child Star, which examines her experiences growing up in the entertainment industry.