Filmmaker-actress Olivia Wilde responded to the actor Florence Pugh's lack of social media advocacy for her or their film Don't Worry Darling. Olivia stated in a new interview that she recruited Florence "to perform" and not "to post," and that Florence "fulfilled every single expectation" Olivia had for her. Florence was also lauded by the woman, who said that she "exquisitely completed the task I asked her to do" and astounded her.
There have been rumours of a conflict between Olivia and Florence for the past few months. Florence hasn't shared the trailer or made many Instagram posts about the movie. She also skipped the customary news conference that is held prior to the movie's showing. Florence also avoided Olivia's eyes during the standing ovation after the premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
Olivia responded to a claim that she had neglected Florence in a recent interview with Vanity Fair. “It is very rare that people assume the best from women in power. I think they don’t often give us the benefit of the doubt. Florence did the job I hired her to do, and she did it exquisitely. She blew me away. Every day I was in awe of her, and we worked very well together. It is ironic that now, with my second film—which is again about the incredible power of women, what we’re capable of when we unite, and how easy it is to strip a woman of power by using other women to judge and shame them—we’re talking about this,” Olivia said.
In response to Florence's lack of comment regarding the film and Olivia, she commented, “Florence is one of the most in-demand actresses in the universe. She’s on set on Dune. I gather that some people expect for her to be engaging more on social media. I didn’t hire her to post. I hired her to act. She fulfilled every single expectation I had of her. That’s all that matters to me. Florence’s performance in this film is astounding. It’s just baffling to me that the media would rather focus on baseless rumours and gossip, thereby overshadowing her profound talent. She deserves more than that. As does the movie, and everyone who worked so hard on it.”
Originally cast in the movie, Shia LaBeouf was later replaced by Harry Styles. By telling Vanity Fair magazine last month that she did not like his work ethos, Olivia Wilde stoked rumours that she fired him. LaBoeuf disagreed with her account of what happened and made public a voicemail he had received from her pleading with him to stay on board. Additionally, it was said that Olivia had done it in support of Florence, yet Florence and Shia actually get along well.
On September 23, the movie will be released in theatres. Florence and Harry play a contented couple in the film who reside in a vibrantly coloured 1950s village in the middle of the US desert. But when one of the neighbourhood women goes missing, the beautiful quiet is disturbed, and her character Alice starts to doubt the world around her.
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