Amanda Seyfried has found herself under scrutiny following her role in the documentary ‘You Can See Everything.’ The film, co-starring Nathan Fielder, chronicles the last 34 days before Elizabeth Holmes started her prison sentence. Holmes commenced her term at the Federal Prison Camp Bryan on May 30, 2023.
Seyfried revisited her ties to Holmes, whom she previously brought to life in Hulu’s ‘The Dropout.’ Released on October 16, the documentary delves into Seyfried’s changing perspective on Holmes, focusing on Holmes’ personal life and her relationship with Billy Evans. Seyfried and Fielder re-enacted discussions Holmes had post-reporting to prison.
Throughout the documentary, Seyfried’s empathy for Holmes emerged, even though Holmes critiqued Seyfried’s portrayal of her in ‘The Dropout.’ This portrayal has sparked reactions, with viewers interpreting Seyfried’s stance as controversial.
“Amanda Seyfried defending Holmes as a victim of male manipulation until Holmes accused her of sensationalizing the Theranos scandal and then reacting defensively was truly disappointing,” commented one viewer.
Another viewer noted, “Seyfried’s ‘women protecting women’ stance changes when facing her part in the Theranos story, shifting blame to others.”
Not everyone shared these critical views. Some supporters argued that Seyfried’s perspective shift on Holmes is vital to understanding the documentary’s core theme. One person noted, “The film’s point is in showing changing opinions. Seyfried, Fielder, and the viewers evolve their perspectives on Holmes.”
The film scrutinizes Holmes’ attempts to rebuild her public image following Theranos’ downfall. It examines her handling of the fraud conviction fallout and portrays her efforts to control public perception versus reality. Seyfried’s role in this re-examination has triggered discussions on accountability and representation in media portrayals of high-profile figures.
Holmes was sentenced to over 11 years in federal prison for misleading investors about Theranos’ blood-testing technology. She was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and multiple counts of wire fraud in 2022.