Documentary Exposes Coercive Control in Elizabeth Holmes's Relationship
A new film details Billy Evans's manipulative behavior toward the disgraced Theranos founder, illustrating how coercive control masks abuse as adoration.
The documentary 'You Can See Everything' documents Billy Evans's controlling behavior toward Elizabeth Holmes during its production. Directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, the film was screened at Rochester's Little Theater and tracks Holmes in the days before she surrendered to federal prison in 2023. It shows Evans abruptly taking eggs from Holmes while she whisks them, a small act demonstrating his need for control. Evans injects himself into the film with grandiosity, claiming he is integral to Holmes's legacy and that their relationship will define her public image. He describes falling in love with her within an hour while simultaneously dating three other women. Evans uses phrases like "building monuments of love to me" to justify controlling her public voice. He refused to take payment for the film despite claiming he would finagle a portion of its profits. When asked if he would harm people, Evans stated, "I'm pretty strategic and well-resourced. I know people who can do just about anything" before going silent.
Coercive control patterns exposed
The film examines coercive control as the hallmark of intimate partner violence, which victims often misunderstand as love. It illustrates how such control begins with overwhelming adoration and emotional manipulation, making victims feel cared for while surrendering agency. Behaviors like jealousy, body size suggestions, cruel jokes, and rapid cohabitation are forms of love bombing that erode boundaries. Holmes is portrayed in the film as a doting mother with frazzled hair and a well-loved camel sweater, her children always conveniently in the shot. The documentary argues coercive control doesn't initially look like angry outbursts but starts with affectionate behavior that masks control.
Expert perspective on manipulation
Evans claims they have never had a significant argument, a statement dismissed as typical of abusive partners. The author contextualizing the film has met many men like Billy Evans, unpleasant, fragile fellows with limited distress tolerance. She cautions against viewing Holmes solely as a victim due to her calculating nature and potential for manipulation, referencing forensic psychiatrist advice to consider collateral perspectives. Theranos whistleblower Tyler Shultz offered a skeptical view that Holmes might manipulate abusive tendencies. The author expresses concern that portraying Holmes as a trauma victim could soften her image during a time of rollback of women's rights. Holmes has been described as adroitly manipulative, having conned ex-Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. She is the disgraced founder of Theranos who defrauded investors of hundreds of millions of dollars and put countless patients' health at risk with her faulty blood testing device.
Documented behaviors and reactions
The film shows Holmes repeatedly stating 'I don't know' when questioned about the Theranos scandal and becoming emotional about her impending prison time and separation from her two small children. Evans is described as an egomaniac who allowed a grifter to promote a nude shower scene image of Holmes despite her disapproval. He negotiated payment for the documentary without Holmes's knowledge, tweets from her X account, and created an artificial intelligence deepfake of her. Evans, a Charlie Kirk fanatic, cursed at actress Amanda Seyfried when she challenged him for commandeering Holmes's account. Seyfried, who played Holmes in 'The Dropout,' offers a more lucid view, interrogating claims that her role caused Holmes's negative public perception rather than the actual harm caused. She reprises her role as Holmes to recreate conversations Fielder had with her before and during her prison sentence. The documentary was released on USA TODAY's platform as part of their Opinion section.
