Olivia Wilde is addressing rumours that she and Florence Pugh engaged in a screaming match while filming the 2022 psychological thriller Don't Worry Darling. In a new interview with The Cut, Wilde, 42, denied any on-set conflict, stating, 'I've 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.''
Wilde Resents Being Told to Stay Silent
Wilde revealed that people involved in the movie's production urged her to avoid addressing the alleged drama. 'I was told, 'Don't say a f***ing word. Just go out there and smile.' I resent that, but it taught me it's not the way I want to handle things,' she told the outlet. The director and actress, who also starred in the film alongside Harry Styles and Chris Pine, previously addressed the rumours at the Venice Film Festival premiere, calling Pugh 'a force' and blaming her absence from a press conference on her shooting schedule.
Claims of 'Complete Fiction'
Reports of a 'blowout argument' between Wilde and Pugh surfaced just before the film's release, with Vulture alleging that Wilde's 'frequent unexplained absences' with Styles caused tension. Pugh was also said to have told the studio she did not want to 'participate in the film's life cycle in any way.' However, Wilde told The Cut that the rumours were 'complete fiction,' echoing sentiments from those who worked on the film, who told PEOPLE the claims were 'completely false.'
Wilde's Reflection on Being Cast as the Villain
Wilde reflected on how the narrative painted her as the antagonist, recalling advice from co-star Jennifer Garner about how actresses are categorized by the public. 'She said it's like you get cast in a soap opera by the public. And they assign you an obvious archetype: The damsel in distress, the good girl, the pretty girl. I became the full-on villain. Like Cruella,' Wilde said. She previously expressed regret about staying silent during an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, stating, 'I never felt more disconnected from the person that people were talking about. It was also very strange to see complete fiction traded as fact.'
Spitting Rumours Also Debunked
The alleged behind-the-scenes conflict extended beyond Wilde and Pugh. At the Venice premiere, social media erupted with claims that Harry Styles, 32, had spit on Chris Pine, 45, as he took his seat. A frame-by-frame analysis was shared online, with one user writing, 'He definitely spit something. You can even tell by Chris's reaction.' However, Pine's representative called the story 'ridiculous' in a statement to PEOPLE, adding, 'This is a ridiculous story — a complete fabrication and the result of an odd online illusion that is clearly deceiving and allows for foolish speculation. Just to be clear, Harry Styles did not spit on Chris Pine. There is nothing but respect between these two men.'
