Amanda Seyfried has publicly called out Paramount Pictures, accusing the studio of profiting from 'Mean Girls' merchandise without her involvement. During a recent chat with Adam Brody, 45, for a fresh 'Actors on Actors' segment hosted by Variety, the actress reminisced about the iconic 2004 comedy and the myriad of merchandise that has been sold in its wake.
The engaging conversation, shared on X on Monday, June 9th, kicked off with Brody inquiring if Seyfried had ever revisited the cult classic. "No, I haven't. It's on TV often enough, though. And you know what? I love it," she said, pausing momentarily to gather her thoughts. With a twinkle in her eye, she added, "I really love seeing my face on people's T-shirts. But, I'm a bit resentful because Paramount still owes me some money."
Brody seemed taken aback by her revelation. "For the T-shirts?" he asked, surprised. "For the use of my image," Seyfried clarified. The star of 'Long Bright River' further elaborated, "Every store sells 'Mean Girls' T-shirts featuring our faces and photographs!"
She pondered aloud about the possible reasons behind her alleged exclusion from the merchandise profits. "Is it because I was 17 and naive?" Seyfried quizzed Brody. Despite her unresolved contract issues with the film company, the 'Mama Mia' alum remains grateful for the continued support her fans shower upon her and her fellow castmates – Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, and Lacey Chabert – in Tina Fey's penned masterpiece.
Seyfried's enthusiasm for the film was evident as she recounted a recent encounter with a TSA agent who declared 'Mean Girls' as her favorite movie. "I was like, 'Great, I was seventeen, I had nothing to do with its success!'" she exclaimed.
Paramount Pictures has yet to respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on the matter.
In the 2004 cinematic hit, the now 38-year-old Lohan shone brightly as Cady Heron, a transfer student hailing from Africa who found herself an unwitting social misfit in the suburban enclaves of Illinois upon entering her new high school. There, she encountered the formidable trio known as The Plastics: Karen Smith (portrayed by Seyfried), Gretchen Wieners (Chabert), and their ruthless ringleader, Regina George (McAdams). Seyfried embraced the archetype of the "dumb blonde," her character's zany reactions to nearly every situation becoming a hallmark of the film. Reflecting on her iconic portrayal in a March 2023 GQ video, Seyfried shared, "It was a bit like channeling Marilyn Monroe in 'Some Like It Hot.' I clung to that interpretation tightly, believing it was the reason I secured the role, and I lacked the confidence to trust my own instincts about who this character truly was."
In October 2023, a mini reunion of the leading ladies unfolded (with the notable exception of 46-year-old McAdams) as cameras captured the trio on a Los Angeles football field. Photographs captured them subtly referencing their iconic characters, including Lohan carrying a tiny zippered pouch proudly declaring her as a "Plastics Club Member." This mini-reunion eventually led to the actresses starring together in a Walmart commercial.
McAdams explained her absence to Variety in 2023, candidly stating, "To be honest, I wasn't overly enthusiastic about participating in a commercial. I've never ventured into that realm, and it just didn't resonate with me."
