“He Hated Me”: McLovin’s Shocking Jonah Hill Claim Resurfaces
How Real-Life Beef Between Jonah Hill and Christopher Mintz-Plasse Created Movie Magic in Superbad
TL;DR: The hilarious hatred between Seth (Jonah Hill) and Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) in Superbad wasn’t just acting—it was real life. Jonah tried to get Christopher fired, but the directors hired him because they hated each other. That authentic tension made the movie funnier.
The Origin Story: Two 13-Year-Olds Writing a Movie
- Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg started writing Superbad when they were just 13 years old.
- They based the two main characters—Seth and Evan—on themselves.
- The movie came out in 2007, starring:
- Jonah Hill as Seth
- Michael Cera as Evan
- Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Fogell (aka McLovin)
Fun Fact: McLovin’s fake ID (with just one name: "McLovin") is one of the most iconic props in comedy history.
The Real-Life Feud That Fueled the Film
Jonah Hill vs. Christopher Mintz-Plasse: Not Acting, Just… Real Life
- Jonah Hill and Christopher Mintz-Plasse did not get along off-camera.
- In fact, that’s exactly why Christopher got the part.
The Audition That Changed Everything
At a Fan Expo Chicago panel years later, Christopher shared the wild story:
- Christopher was 17, not a pro actor, just a high school kid.
- During the audition, Jonah started roasting him (making fun of him hard).
- Instead of getting upset, Christopher roasted him right back.
- They went back and forth like two kids on a playground.
Christopher’s words: "Jonah’s roasting me… it’s my fucking buddy roasting me, I’m going to roast him back. And that’s what I did."
Jonah Tried to Get Him Fired
After the audition, Jonah went to the real-life Seth (Rogen) and producer Judd Apatow and said:
"Fuck that guy, don’t cast that guy."
He genuinely disliked Christopher and tried to block him from the movie.
The Directors Saw Gold in the Conflict
Instead of listening to Jonah, Seth Rogen, Judd Apatow, and director Greg Mottola had a different reaction:
"We gotta cast that guy."
They realized:
- The real hatred between the actors = perfect on-screen chemistry.
- The characters Seth and Fogell bicker constantly in the movie.
- That tension? 100% authentic.
Christopher recalled: "I think [Jonah] hating me really helped me book that part."
The Story Resurfaces: Why Now?
Recently, Jonah Hill made headlines for controversial comments about:
- Jiu-jitsu
- Being recognized as the "fucking fat guy from Superbad"
This brought Christopher’s old Fan Expo story back into the spotlight. The clip went viral on X (formerly Twitter) with millions of views.
What People Are Saying Online
- "Everything I hear about Jonah Hill is just bad things."
- "Jonah trying to sabotage the casting? The absolute nerve."
- Many called Jonah "insufferable" and "insecure."
It’s All Confirmed: The Creators Back It Up
This isn’t just gossip—everyone involved has confirmed it publicly.
Judd Apatow (Producer) told Vanity Fair (2022):
"Jonah said, ‘I don’t like that guy. I don’t want him doing it.’ I said, ‘That’s exactly why we’re hiring him. The fact that it bothers you is exactly what we want.’"
Jonah Hill himself admitted in the same article:
"Chris was really, really amazing off the bat."
(But also: he found Christopher "really annoying.")
Why This Matters: A Masterclass in Casting
| Normal Casting Logic | Superbad Casting Logic |
|---|---|
| Hire actors who get along | Hire actors who genuinely clash |
| Fake chemistry | Real tension = real comedy |
| Safe choices | Risky, brilliant choices |
The result? One of the most beloved comedies of all time.
Summary
- Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg wrote Superbad at 13, based on themselves.
- Jonah Hill (Seth) and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Fogell) hated each other in real life.
- Jonah tried to get Christopher fired after he roasted him back during auditions.
- Producers hired Christopher BECAUSE of the hatred—it matched the characters perfectly.
- The story resurfaced after Jonah’s recent controversial comments.
- Judd Apatow, Seth Rogen, and Jonah himself have all confirmed it.
- That real-life beef? It made the movie funnier.
FAQ
Did Jonah Hill and Christopher Mintz-Plasse ever make up?
A: The article doesn’t say—but they’ve both spoken publicly about the feud years later with zero bad blood in their tone. It seems like water under the bridge.
Was Michael Cera (Evan) part of the drama?
A: Nope. The tension was specifically between Jonah and Christopher. Michael Cera played the sweet, awkward Evan—no real-life beef needed.
Is Superbad based on a true story?
A: Kind of! The writers (Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg) based the main characters on themselves as teenagers. But the McLovin storyline? Pure comedy gold.
Why did Jonah Hill try to block Christopher’s casting?
A: He found him "really annoying" during the audition roast session. But Christopher’s clapback impressed the directors.
Where can I watch the viral Fan Expo clip?
A: You can watch it here on X (Twitter).
Final Thought: Sometimes the best chemistry isn’t friendship—it’s friction. And in Superbad, that friction gave us McLovin.