Before this article even begins in earnest, let’s get this out of the way: If you haven’t seen You can see everythingNathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim’s documentary about convicted Theranos fraudster Elizabeth Holmes, you should definitely stop reading now, close this tab, and head to the movies. In other words, spoilers ahead.
Okay, that said: Billy Evans – Holmes’ romantic and business partner and the father of her two children – is actually doing his first interview since You can see everything came out last month, in the form of an “Ask Me Anything” on
At first glance, Evans doesn’t seem to be holding back, offering answers to many probing questions about You can see everythingas well as more mundane and random topics. But before we get to that, a caveat is in order: Evans is arguably the most compelling, strange, and unsettling presence in the world. You can see everythinga film full of fascinating, strange and disturbing presences. The doc asks, and struggles to answer, basic questions like whether Evans is Holmes’ control of Svengali (Holmes gave him power of attorney before going to prison) or whether Evans is actually an attention-seeking wrestler used by Holmes (he comes from a wealthy family). Or maybe it’s a third ineffable thing where Evans and Holmes are simply made for each other.
To that end, in the AMA, Evans said the film’s biggest misconception was the idea that it controlled Holmes. “Anyone who knows her would find this idea hilarious,” he wrote. “She is fiercely independent, strong-willed, and my best friend. We are partners in every sense of the word. We challenge each other, disagree, and face the world together. Her closest friends are also some of my closest friends. If I ever mistreat her, they would have my head.”
Quite categorical! But with Evans, perhaps a different Q&A provides a better perspective for viewing this AMA: “Have you ever lied?” » one person asked. This is clearly a question Fielder asked Holmes in the doc, and one she struggled to answer before answering “no” to a stunned Fielder. Evans, however, is succinct and answers: “Yes.”
With all that in mind, here are some of the highlights from Evans’ AMA.
To begin with, he does not regret having participated in You can see everythingand when asked about his suspicious sniffles during the second half of the film (which some suspected were the result of cocaine use), he attributed it to his two children’s colds and allergies. As for an already infamous opening shot showing Evans fully naked in the shower, he rejected the idea that such a scene could only happen with his permission. “False narrative,” he responded, before sharing a link to a recent People article in which “a source” said Evans felt “violated” by the scene.
Evans also attempted to sow doubt over a crucial scene related to whether Holmes knew that Evans had made a deal with Fielder, Oppenheim and A24 to receive a share of You can see everythingthe profits. At one point in the film, Holmes tells Fielder that she is not being paid to be in the film; but according to Fielder and Oppenheim, Evans reached an agreement with them and A24 to receive compensation. This allegedly occurred during a meeting at the home of a friend of Evans and Holmes, after Holmes pointedly left the room to watch his children.
When asked about the footage, Evans bluntly replied, “Lmao, the house it was in was one story. Everything you need to know.” (Evans and Holmes ultimately gave up their share of the film’s profits before its release.)
Another major issue Evans addressed was the fact that he had power of attorney over Holmes and was using his X account to tweet on his behalf. Evans said Holmes “knew exactly what we were doing,” adding: “We talk about everything, including X. Nothing happened behind his back. The POA was simply the legal mechanism that allowed me to act on his behalf while he was incarcerated. It was not a substitute for his consent.”
Amidst all of this, however, Evans’ AMA also contained a lot of fun and stupid stuff. When asked if any of the film was scripted, Evans joked, “The hardest part of filming was remembering my lines.” He shared his preference for dogs, but expressed admiration for the “independence” of cats. His four favorite films are The fall, Stranger, The great dictatorAnd Primer. And her favorite pop diva? “Chappell Roan has one of the best live sets I’ve ever seen. The crowd was incredible. I bought our engagement ring at a sales booth on Taylor Swift’s Reputation tour. Aretha Franklin has the best voice.”
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