Celebrity4 min(s) read
Published 08:49 25 Jun 2026 GMT
Olivia Wilde has addressed long-running rumors regarding her relationship with actress Florence Pugh during the production of the thriller film Don't Worry Darling.
For years, gossip surrounding the production clouded the film's release, with allegations pointing toward a hostile environment on set.
The focus of Wilde's recent statements is the direct denial of a major confrontation. Reports had circulated claiming that the director and her leading lady engaged in a massive argument during filming. Wilde has formally rejected these claims, shedding light on why she stayed quiet during the height of the media storm.
Speaking with the publication The Cut, Wilde focused directly on the claims of a chaotic workplace. "I have never had a screaming match on my set. I was never not available on set. I wanted to be like, 'None of this is true'," she stated.
The filmmaker noted that she was pressured by outside forces to stay quiet when the rumors first gained traction. Reflecting on the studio's advice, she explained, "I was told, 'Don't say a f**ing word. Just go out there and smile.'"
Wilde expressed regret over following that guidance, adding, "I resent that, but it taught me it's not the way I want to handle things."
Much of the public speculation centered on Wilde's romantic relationship with singer and actor Harry Styles, who also starred in the film. Sources at the time alleged that Pugh was uncomfortable with the relationship because Wilde was still engaged to Jason Sudeikis when it began.
Rumors intensified after a video leaked in which Wilde referred to Pugh as "Miss Flo" and suggested she needed a "wake-up call" during rehearsals.
Reports from outlets like Vulture alleged that Wilde and Styles would frequently disappear from the set, leading to an anonymous insider claiming that the two women had a confrontation over these absences.
Despite the ongoing tabloid attention, members of the production crew have stepped forward to defend the director. A joint statement signed by 40 individuals who worked on the film, including producer Miri Yoon, strongly contested the negative stories.
"As a crew, we've avoided addressing the absurd gossip surrounding the movie we're so proud of, but feel the need to correct the anonymous 'sources' quoted in a recent article," the statement read via Variety.
The crew asserted that Wilde maintained an orderly environment, stating, "Any allegations about unprofessional behavior on the set are completely false. Olivia is an incredible leader and director who was present with and involved in every aspect of production.
"She ran this set with class and respect for everyone involved. There was never a screaming match between our director and anyone, let alone a member of our cast."
Wilde herself had previously praised Pugh publicly during a press conference at the Venice Film Festival, which Pugh could not attend due to her filming schedule for Dune.
When asked at the festival to address the alleged falling out, Wilde responded (via Vanity Fair), "Florence is a force and we are so grateful that she is able to make it tonight despite being in production on Dune."
She went on to say, "I know as a director how disruptive it is to lose an actor even for a day so I'm very grateful to her and Denis Villeneuve for helping us - we're really thrilled we'll get to celebrate her work tonight."
Wilde concluded her remarks by stating, "I can't say enough how honoured I am to have her as our lead. She's amazing in the film and, as for all the endless tabloid gossip and all the noise out there, I mean, the internet feeds itself. I don't feel the need to contribute, I think it's sufficiently well nourished."
Wilde and Styles have since ended their relationship, while Wilde continues to co-parent her two children, Otis and Daisy, with her former partner Sudeikis.
4 min(s) read
3 min(s) read
3 min(s) read
3 min(s) read
celebrity4 min(s) read
celebrity3 min(s) read
celebrity3 min(s) read
celebrity3 min(s) read
celebrity3 min(s) read
Published 19:43 05 Sep 2022 GMT
Olivia Wilde was awkwardly forced to address rumors of a falling out with Florence Pugh at a live panel at the Venice International Film Festival, Grazia reports.
The actress-turned-director is currently in the Italian city to promote her latest project, Don't Worry Darling - a psychological thriller set in the 1950s that stars Harry Styles, Chris Pine, Gemma Chan, and Florence Pugh. It is the latter whose supposed feud with Wilde has caused controversy and dominated headlines in recent weeks.
During a press conference for Don't Worry Darling - of which Pugh was mysteriously not in attendance - a journalist stated that it was a "shame" the movie's lead actress wasn't present, asking Wilde: "Can you just clear the air and address if there's been a falling out there and if so why? Because it's something that people are discussing."
"Florence is a force and we are so grateful that she is able to make it tonight despite being in production on Dune. I know as a director how disruptive it is to lose an actor even for a day so I'm very grateful to her and Denis Villeneuve for helping us – we're really thrilled we'll get to celebrate her work tonight," the director stated rather diplomatically, per the .
She added: "I can't say enough how honored I am to have her as our lead. She's amazing in the film and as for all the endless tabloid gossip and all the noise out there, I mean, the internet feeds itself. I don't feel the need to contribute, I think it's sufficiently well nourished."
Despite missing the panel, British native Pugh is expected to walk the red carpet for the movie on Monday (September 5). Variety confirmed that the 26-year-old actress was unfortunately unable to attend the panel as her flight landed after it was expected to commence.
Gossip about a feud between her and Wilde came to a head when a leaked video showed Wilde pleading with actor Shia LaBeouf not to quit Don't Worry Darling (in which he was meant to star), as previously reported. The leaked footage came after the 38-year-old director claimed she had fired LaBeouf from the set of the flick in 2020 for safety reasons.
That announcement in 2020 was certainly timely, given that LaBeouf was receiving negative publicity stemming from accusations of sexual battery and assault from his former girlfriend, FKA Twigs.
Wilde was asked another question about this situation with LaBeouf by The Hollywood Reporter's Alex Ritman, however, the question was shut down by a moderator, Newsweek revealed. This was followed by a few seconds of tense silence, and then awkward laughter from Wilde's rumored beau, Harry Styles.
Several short clips of the panel have made their way to Twitter, where Wilde's appearance has only seemed to raise more questions among social media users about what went on backstage on Don't Worry Darling.
One user posted a 45-second snippet of the panel discussion, writing: "OK SO Olivia Wilde spoke about why Florence Pugh isn't at the press conference but refused to answer any questions about Shia LaBeouf !!!!! There is 100% more tea to be shared #DontWorryDarling #VeniceFilmFestival [sic]."
Rumors of the feud between the two women have persisted, despite Wilde's continued yet arguably overzealous praise for Pugh - even calling her "ferociously talented" in a recent Interview article written by Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Published 09:40 25 Aug 2022 GMT
Olivia Wilde has opened up about the moment she got served custody papers from Jason Sudeikis while speaking onstage at CinemaCon.
In April, the 38-year-old director was handed a manila envelope labeled "personal and confidential" while she was introducing the trailer for her upcoming psychological thriller - Don't Worry Darling.
At the time, the 46-year-old Ted Lasso star's representative insisted that he had no prior knowledge that she was going to be served at the convention, adding that Sudeikis "felt a great distress at the manner in which service was made", per Deadline.
However, in a new interview with Variety, Wilde revealed that the incident was not "entirely surprising" to her and that there's a "reason" why she left her former partner.
The House actress labeled the move as a "vicious" attack and went on to say that the incident involved "a huge breach in security, which is really scary".
"The hurdles that you had to jump through to get into that room with several badges, plus special Covid tests that had to be taken days in advance, which gave you wristbands that were necessary to gain access to the event - this was something that required forethought," she added.
She continued that that moment was unfortunate for her two kids - Otis, eight, and Daisy, five - who were involved in a public matter that should have been kept confidential.
According to the Independent, Sudeikis revealed in a prior declaration at court that the server was unable to give Wilde the custody papers at the intended location of Heathrow Airport due to numerous mishaps.
The server then tried to serve her the papers at the Las Vegas hotel where the CinemaCon was being held, and then noticed Wilde at the Warner Brothers Panel and "proceeded to serve the Summons and Petition" papers.
The Booksmart director explained that the "nastiness" of the "sabotage" diverted people from her second directorial effort, which will be released in theaters next month.
The former celebrity couple had been co-parenting their kids since ending their relationship in November 2020, following a seven-year engagement.
Recently this month, a judge ruled in favor of Wilde and declared that her children will reside in California and not New York as the Horrible Bosses actor petitioned in October 2021, according to papers obtained by Page Six.
Wilde - who is currently dating singer and Don’t Worry Darling actor Harry Styles - now splits her time between Los Angeles and the UK.
Published 11:47 25 Aug 2022 GMT
Olivia Wilde has opened up about Shia La Beouf's controversial exit from her upcoming movie 'Don't Worry Darling'.
The psychological thriller - which stars Harry Styles and Florence Pugh - follows a 1950s couple who move into an experimental utopian community in California.
Directed by Wilde, the film is due to screen at the Venice Film Festival next month. Despite not yet being released, the movie has been making headlines since September 2020, when it was announced that Transformers star Shia LaBeouf had been kicked off the project in favor of Styles.
At the time, it was claimed that scheduling conflicts were the reason for the casting change. However, in an interview with Variety, Wilde revealed that in fact, it was safety concerns that led her to fire LaBeouf from the movie.
The actor-turned-director explained that her film needed someone "incredibly supportive" because "I knew that I was going to be asking Florence to be in very vulnerable situations, and my priority was making her feel safe and making her feel supported."
She went on to say that - while she is an admirer of LaBeouf - she felt that his process was too aggressive for the role.
"He has a process that, in some ways, seems to require a combative energy, and I don’t personally believe that is conducive to the best performances," Wilde said.
"I believe that creating a safe, trusting environment is the best way to get people to do their best work. Ultimately, my responsibility is to the production and to the cast to protect them. That was my job," she added.
Since being dropped from Don't Worry Darling, LaBeouf has been sued for sexual battery by his ex-girlfriend FKA Twigs and charged with petty theft. Last year, a court ordered the Honey Boy star to attend anger management and therapy to avoid a stint behind bars.
Don't Worry Darling is Wilde's second outing as a director, after the critically successful teen comedy Booksmart (2019). It is set to be released in theaters on September 23.
Published 16:53 27 Aug 2022 GMT
Shia LaBeouf has come forward to dispute Olivia Wilde’s claim that he was fired from her upcoming movie Don’t Worry Darling.
The 36-year-old Transformers actor was scheduled to appear in Wilde's psychological thriller that follows a 1950s couple who move into an experimental utopian community in California.
The controversial actor was initially meant to play Jack - the romantic partner of Florence Pugh’s character Alice - but was eventually replaced by pop star Harry Styles.
Earlier this week, the 38-year-old director spoke about LaBeouf’s departure from the project in a cover story with Variety, saying that it was safety concerns that led to his firing. However, LaBeouf has reached out to a number of outlets, including The A.V. Club, to deny this claim.
The Even Stevens actor sent screenshots of his email and text exchanges with Wilde to the publication, saying that he left on his own accord as he "couldn’t find time to rehearse" with the actors.
"You and I both know the reasons for my exit," he reportedly wrote to the Booksmart director in an email, forwarded to publication. "I quit your film because your actors and I couldn’t find time to rehearse."
He also mentioned his relationship with singer FKA Twigs - who has accused the actor of "sexual battery" in a lawsuit - and also spoke of his daughter Isabel who he shares with partner Mia Goth.
As well as this, the outlet reported that the actor sent a video of Wilde seemingly trying to persuade him to stay on to the project, soon after he allegedly told her of his planned exit in August 2020.
In the video, Wilde is driving a car and says she is "not ready to give up on this yet" and alluded to possible tension between LaBeouf and Pugh, saying: 'I wanna know if you're open to giving this a shot, with me. With us. If [Florence] really commits."
She then concluded by adding: "And if you guys can make peace, and I respect your point of view, and I respect hers if you guys can do it - what do you think? Is there hope? Will you let me know?"
Watch the video below:This report is just the latest in a series of tumultuous events that have surrounded the film since its production began during the pandemic.
One of the events was when Wilde was presented with custody papers from her ex-partner, Jason Sudeikis during a presentation for the film at CinemaCon in April.
The actress spoke about the moment recently saying that incident was a "vicious attack" and that the "nastiness" of the "sabotage" diverted people from her second directorial effort, which will be released in theaters next month.
However, the 46-year-old Ted Lasso star's representative insisted that he had no prior knowledge that she was going to be served at the convention, saying that Sudeikis "felt a great distress at the manner in which service was made", per Deadline.
Published 15:09 11 Nov 2025 GMT
Florence Pugh, the 29-year-old actress known for her roles in Don't Worry Darling and Oppenheimer, recently spoke out about the challenges she’s faced while filming sex scenes. She expressed frustration with directors who have been inappropriate in their guidance, as well as concerns about the role intimacy coordinators can play on set.
In an interview on the Louis Theroux podcast, Florence opened up about her experiences in the film industry. She explained that while she is confident in her own body and has always been able to voice her boundaries, there were moments when directors crossed lines.
“There are plenty of things that I remember where it was just completely inappropriate to have asked me to do that,” she said. Despite these experiences, she acknowledged that her perspective on intimacy coordinators has evolved. “I’m now having fantastic experiences with intimacy coordinators,” she added.
Intimacy coordinators, introduced to the industry around 2018, became more prominent following the #MeToo movement. These professionals help ensure actors' safety and comfort during intimate scenes. Florence has had varied experiences with them.
While she praised skilled coordinators who enhance the portrayal of intimacy, she also recounted working with one who made her feel uncomfortable and awkward. “I’ve also had a s*** example where someone just made it so weird and so awkward and really wasn’t helpful and kind of was just like wanting to be a part of the set in a way that wasn't helpful, and I think it's a job that's still figuring itself out,” she said.
However, Florence’s view on intimacy coordinators has shifted for the better. She emphasized that the role of a good coordinator is to help actors understand the emotional and narrative context of a scene. “I was like, oh this is what I’ve been missing, understanding the dance of intimacy as opposed to just shooting a sex scene,” she explained. This process, according to Pugh, has led to a deeper understanding of the characters and the scene itself, making the experience more collaborative and respectful.
Florence also highlighted the positive changes that have occurred in how sex scenes are handled on film sets. Communication now takes place well in advance, with actors discussing their boundaries, including safe words and specific areas they don’t want to be touched. These conversations help remove the awkwardness and ensure actors feel more comfortable before stepping onto set. “Now what happens, conversation about the sex scenes happen weeks before and it becomes not embarrassing anymore,” she said.
In addition, Florence described how contracts and agreements about what nudity and camera angles will be shown are arranged beforehand. “What is allowed on camera and not, that is arranged with your law as that is put in your contract,” she explained. According to Pugh, this level of transparency and preparation ensures that the set remains respectful and that actors’ boundaries are protected.
Florence’s comments reflect broader industry changes that prioritize safety, respect, and communication on set, particularly in scenes of intimacy.
.webp_SmgFsc?tr=cr-292.0.1244.952,f-webp,q-70,w-100)
.webp_SmgFsc?tr=cr-292.0.1244.952,f-webp,q-70,w-1024)
