Olivia Wilde has spoken out to refute persistent rumors of toxicity and conflict on the set of her film "Don't Worry Darling," particularly denying a reported "screaming match" with star Florence Pugh.
Wilde stated in an interview that she "never had a screaming match on my set" and was always available to the cast and crew. She indicated that speculation surrounding her personal relationship with co-star Harry Styles, and Pugh's alleged displeasure with it while Pugh was still engaged to Jason Sudeikis, fueled these damaging narratives. "I wanted to be like, 'None of this is no true,'" Wilde said.
The film's rollout was significantly impacted by widespread rumors of a feud between Wilde and Pugh. According to some reports, the tension began when Pugh learned of Wilde's relationship with Styles, who also starred in the film, while Wilde was still engaged to Sudeikis. This narrative intensified with leaked messages, including one where Wilde referred to Pugh as "Miss Flo" and suggested she needed a "wake-up call."
Wilde explained that she was advised by the studio and others to remain silent about the speculation, a directive she now regrets. "I was told, 'Don't say a f**king word. Just go out there and smile,'" Wilde told The Cut, adding, "I resent that, but it taught me it's not the way I want to handle things."
During a press conference at the Venice Film Festival, where "Don't Worry Darling" premiered, Wilde addressed the rumors indirectly. When asked about a potential falling out with Pugh, Wilde praised her star, calling her "a force" and expressing gratitude for her presence at the event despite her filming obligations for "Dune." Wilde added that she did not "feel the need to contribute" to the "endless tabloid gossip."
Supporting Wilde's account, approximately 40 individuals who worked on the film, including producer Miri Yoon, issued a joint statement after the movie's release. They aimed to "correct the anonymous 'sources' quoted in a recent article," asserting that "any allegations about unprofessional behavior on the set are completely false." The statement emphasized that Wilde was an "incredible leader and director" who ran the set with "class and respect for everyone involved," and reiterated that "there was never a screaming match between our director and anyone, let alone a member of our cast."
Wilde and Styles, whose relationship began during the production of "Don't Worry Darling," have since separated. The split was attributed in part to the pressures of Styles's global touring schedule and Wilde's focus on her children, Otis Alexander and Daisy Josephine, with her former partner Jason Sudeikis. Styles's song "Paint By Numbers" is speculated to be a breakup song referencing their relationship.
"Don't Worry Darling" stars Florence Pugh as a woman who discovers a disturbing truth about her seemingly idyllic life in a 1950s experimental community orchestrated by her boyfriend, played by Harry Styles. The film's production was notably shadowed by media reports of on-set discord.