There’s nothing to see here, darling.
Olivia Wilde has again slammed rumors of a feud between her and actress Florence Pugh on the set of their new feature film “Don’t Worry Darling,” according to a new interview.
Wilde, 38 — who directed the film as well as starring with Pugh — said it’s “shocking” to see “so many untruths traded as fact,” in regards to the behind-the-scenes drama of the highly anticipated flick.
Speaking with Elle for the 2022 Women in Hollywood November issue, Wilde said Pugh made a “wise comment” when she recently quipped that the cast “didn’t sign up for a reality show.”
“And I love that she put it that way, because it’s as though the general public feels that if you are making something that you’re selling to the public, you somehow have accepted that your life will be torn to shreds by a pack of wolves,” Wilde continued. “No, that’s actually not part of the job description. Never was.”
Feud rumors blew up at the film’s Venice Film Festival premiere, after reports came out that Pugh was furious at Wilde over her romance with pop prince Harry Styles, because Pugh is close to the director’s ex, Jason Sudeikis.
And despite numerous images of the group looking awkward as they promoted the film, Wilde sought to crush the rumors at the time.
“As for all the endless tabloid gossip and all the noise out there, I mean, the internet feeds itself,” Wilde said at the time, when asked to “clear the air.”
“I don’t feel the need to contribute. It’s sufficiently well nourished,” she added.
The public was quick to pick up on notable awkward interactions between the actors at film festival — and Pugh’s absence from its New York release.
The cast and crew even released a statement the day before it was released in theatres in September denying the rumors of a “screaming match” between Pugh and Wilde on set, as a reported by Vulture.
“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.
“Any allegations about unprofessional behavior on the set of “Don’t Worry Darling” are completely false,” it continued, praising Wilde’s abilities as a leader and director.
“She ran this set with class and respect for everyone involved,” it read. “There was never a screaming match between our director and anyone, let alone a member of our cast.”
Former lead Shia LaBeouf — who was replaced by Harry Styles, reportedly being fired for making Pugh feel “uncomfortable” on set — spoke out about the controversies, alleging he chose to quit due to lack of rehearsal time with his co-star.
LaBeouf leaked bombshell texts, emails and videos exchanged between himself and Wilde to prove his point, with Wilde maintaining she fired him for Pugh’s safety.
“My responsibility was towards [Florence],” Wilde told Vanity Fair at the time. “I’m like a mother wolf. Making the call was tricky, but in a way he understood. I don’t think it would’ve been a process he enjoyed. He comes at his work with an intensity that can be combative.”