Olivia Wilde has directly addressed persistent rumors of on-set conflict with Florence Pugh during the production of their 2022 film, "Don't Worry Darling." Wilde stated that reports of a "screaming match" and general tension between the two were untrue.
"I have never had a screaming match on my set. I was never not available on set," Wilde told The Cut in a recent interview. She also reflected on the intense public scrutiny surrounding her relationship with Harry Styles, whom she met while making the film. The pair dated for nearly two years before separating in 2022.
Wilde described her relationship with Styles as "loving and wonderful and joyful," but acknowledged that she was advised to remain silent about the rumors at the time. "I was told, ‘Don’t say a f–ing word. Just go out there and smile,’" she recalled, adding that this experience taught her it was not how she wanted to handle such situations.
She expressed frustration with being misunderstood and being subjected to public archetypes. Wilde noted that while she was initially perceived as an "object of desire," her role in "Don't Worry Darling" led the public to label her as a "villain."
Earlier this month, Wilde also spoke on the podcast "Call Her Daddy" about the backlash she received for dating Styles, describing the public reaction as "crazy" and admitting that "people were f–king pissed."
Rumors of discord between Wilde and Pugh gained traction in 2022. Page Six reported in July 2022 that Pugh was reportedly unhappy with Wilde and Styles's public displays of affection on set, particularly as Wilde was still reportedly with Jason Sudeikis when her relationship with Styles began. Sudeikis and Wilde were together from 2011 to 2020 and share two children.
Further claims emerged in September 2022, with an insider telling Vulture that a significant argument, or "blowout argument," occurred between Wilde and Pugh in January 2021. This source alleged that Pugh was frustrated by Wilde's "frequent, unexplained absences" from set due to her relationship with Styles.
Despite the rumors, Wilde publicly praised Pugh's performance on Instagram, writing, "Watching this woman work was such a f–king thrill! Cannot wait to show you more. @florencepugh@dontworrydarling." Pugh did not publicly respond to the post.