During a press conference for the Venice Film Festival on Monday, Olivia Wilde did her best to avoid questions on the issues that have affected her film Don't Worry Darling.
Speaking at the psychological thriller's press conference before its world debut in Venice, Wilde was joined by her actor (and alleged partner), Harry Styles, she said: “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,” she added. “I think it’s sufficiently well nourished.”
Florence Pugh, who plays the major role in the movie, had already made it known that she wouldn't be at the media event because her flight wouldn't arrive until later in the day, in time for the red carpet and the Lido premiere.
Don't Worry Darling, Wilde's follow-up to her directorial debut Booksmart stars Pugh and Styles as an idealistic couple who reside in a 1950s American experimental village. Along with Wilde, the film also stars Chris Pine, Gemma Chan, Kiki Layne, Nick Kroll, and Nick Kroll.
Don't Stress Darling arrived at the festival with more baggage than the majority of the other movies on the schedule, baggage that had only recently accumulated. Initially, there were rumours that Wilde and Pugh had a falling out because Wilde had declared a romantic relationship with Style while they were filming. A few days later, reports spread that Pugh had actually received remuneration for the movie that was less than one-third that of her male co-star (reportedly $700,000 compared to Styles' $2.5 million contract).
In a subsequent interview, Wilde denied that there was any validity to the wage gap allegations, but she also made a passing reference to the fact that she had fired Shia LaBeouf (whose character was taken by Styles), noting that she did so due to his "combative energy" and in order to keep Pugh "safe." LaBeouf then retaliated, saying in an email two days later that he actually "left" the film, while a leaked 2020 video showed Wilde allegedly pleading with him to reconsider his mind and also appearing to blame Pugh for having troubles with the actor. This led to what became a very public online conflict.
She was described as "a force" by Wilde, who also suggested that Pugh's absence from the press conference was simply due to her ongoing work on Dune: Part 2.
“I’m so grateful that she’s able to make it tonight despite being in production on Dune,” Wilde said. “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 grateful to Denis Villeneuve for helping us. And we’re really thrilled we’ll get to celebrate her work tonight. I can’t say enough how honoured I am to have her as our lead. She’s amazing in the film.”
The Venice moderator cut off The Hollywood Reporter's attempt to question Wilde about the LaBeouf scandal later in the press conference by stating that the director had already addressed it in her allusion to the "online cacophony." Before going into theatres on September 23rd, Don't Worry Darling will make its world premiere in Venice and then appear at the Deauville American Film Festival and the San Sebastian International Film Festival.
Adele bags her first Emmy Award win; see her reaction
