Olivia Wilde has spoken about the "trauma" of her public breakup with Harry Styles, which coincided with the release of her 2022 film "Don't Worry Darling." The intense media attention surrounding their relationship and the film's production, which she described as "multidimensional scandals," overshadowed the movie itself.
Wilde and Styles dated for nearly two years, from late 2020 until November 2022. The psychological thriller, starring Florence Pugh and Styles, was rife with rumors of feuds and disputes leading up to its release. Despite its box office success, the film was significantly impacted by alleged conflicts between Wilde and Pugh, discussions about pay disparities, and claims that Wilde's relationship with Styles made crew members uncomfortable.
"I think it did hurt the film for sure because we didn't get to have the conversations about what the film was trying to say, which was a shame because so many people worked so hard to make that film in the depths of COVID," Wilde said in a recent episode of The Louis Theroux Podcast. She noted that the production budget was $30 million, and she believed the film appeared much more expensive due to the work of its crew.
Wilde expressed her naivety about the internet's potential to be a "garbage disposal." "So at this point, I have enough of a perspective on it and that allows me to experience it as a fascinating time. It is interesting to witness a tornado from the inside," she added.
Now on a press tour for her new film, "The Invite," Wilde described the experience as "healing" in contrast to the backlash that surrounded "Don't Worry Darling." She noted that the conversations about her new movie have been "wonderfully interesting" and that she has been allowed to engage in them, finding it to be a positive experience.
"The Invite," a marital comedy starring Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz, and Edward Norton, reportedly sparked a $10 million bidding war, with A24 ultimately acquiring distribution rights. The director has received positive reviews for her latest directorial effort, following her 2019 debut "Booksmart."
Reports during the production of "Don't Worry Darling" suggested significant tension between Wilde and Pugh, including a supposed "screaming match." Florence Pugh was reportedly upset about Wilde's relationship with Styles while he was still married to Jason Sudeikis, though Sudeikis and Wilde reportedly split in November 2021. Wilde's leaked video message to Shia LaBeouf, in which she referred to Pugh as "Miss Flo" and suggested Pugh needed a "wake-up call," further fueled these rumors.
Claims also surfaced regarding a pay disparity between Styles and Pugh, with reports suggesting Styles was paid significantly more. However, Wilde refuted these allegations in a statement to Variety, calling them "absurd" and "invented clickbait." She emphasized her commitment to fighting for fair treatment for herself and others in the industry.
Supporting Wilde's account, "Don't Worry Darling" cinematographer Matthew Libatique told The Hollywood Reporter that he did not witness any acrimony on set. "From my standpoint, the stories are completely untrue when it comes to being on-set," he stated.
Additionally, a group of 40 individuals who worked on the film, including producer Miri Yoon, released a joint statement to the Daily Mail, labeling the gossip as "absurd" and "completely false." They asserted that Wilde was an "incredible leader and director" who ran the set with "class and respect for everyone involved," and that there was "never a screaming match between our director and anyone, let alone a member of our cast."