‘The Invite’ Star Olivia Wilde Opens Up About the Unexpected Celebrity Who Helped Her Through the Disastrous ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ Controversy

Olivia Wilde is looking back on one of the most difficult periods of her career and revealing the unexpected person who helped her get through it.

During a recent appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, the actress and director opened up about the intense public scrutiny she faced during the release of her 2022 film Don’t Worry Darling. The movie became the center of constant headlines, with rumors surrounding both the production and Wilde’s personal life often overshadowing discussion of the film itself. According to Wilde, one person who offered valuable advice during that time was Pamela Anderson.

The release of Olivia Wilde’s 2022 psychological thriller Don’t Worry Darling became one of the most talked-about Hollywood events of the year, but much of the attention had little to do with the film itself. Instead, the project was overshadowed by a series of controversies involving casting disputes, alleged behind-the-scenes tension, public relationship scrutiny, and viral internet moments that turned its press cycle into a major media spectacle.

One of the earliest and most discussed issues involved Shia LaBeouf’s departure from the film. Wilde stated in an interview that she had fired LaBeouf to maintain a safe and supportive working environment, particularly for co-star Florence Pugh. However, LaBeouf later challenged this version of events by releasing private communications, including emails and a video message from Wilde encouraging him to stay on the project. In that material, Wilde appeared to express a strong desire for him not to exit the film and also referred to Pugh in a way that suggested internal tension. The contradiction between the public statements and the leaked content fueled debate over what had actually happened and damaged Wilde’s credibility in the public eye.

At the same time, speculation grew around a reported rift between Olivia Wilde and Florence Pugh. Anonymous on-set reports and media speculation suggested that Pugh was unhappy with the production environment. Much of the rumor centered on Wilde’s increasing public relationship with Harry Styles, who starred in the film alongside Pugh. Pugh’s limited engagement in the film’s promotional campaign added to the perception of distance, as she was notably absent from key press events and minimized her social media promotion. Her behavior at the Venice Film Festival premiere, where she appeared to avoid interaction with Wilde, further intensified speculation about strained relations.

Wilde’s relationship with Harry Styles also became a major focal point. The romance began after Wilde separated from her longtime partner Jason Sudeikis, and it developed during the film’s production. Because Styles was both a major pop star and the film’s lead actor, the relationship attracted intense public scrutiny. Online discussion frequently focused on whether the relationship impacted professional dynamics on set or contributed to broader tensions within the production.

Additional controversy emerged during the film’s CinemaCon presentation in April 2022. While Wilde was on stage introducing footage from the film, she was served legal custody documents from Sudeikis in front of a live audience of industry professionals. Although Sudeikis denied any intent to have her served publicly, the moment became a widely circulated incident that further tied the film to off-screen drama.

The situation reached another peak during the Venice Film Festival premiere, where a viral moment dubbed “Spitgate” took over social media. A short video clip appeared to show Harry Styles spitting toward actor Chris Pine as he sat down in the theater. Representatives for both actors denied the incident, and later analysis of the footage suggested it likely did not happen. However, the rumor spread quickly and became a meme, drawing further attention away from the film itself.

The filmmaker explained that she reached out to Anderson after watching the Netflix documentary Pamela, A Love Story. The documentary explored Anderson’s life, career, and the many public controversies she endured over the years. Wilde said she felt a great deal of respect for how Anderson handled those experiences and wanted to tell her directly.

“I actually learned this from — this sounds so crazy,” Wilde said. “But after I saw the documentary I reached out to her, and I was like, ‘Yo, respect. Just want to say big fan.’” The conversation eventually turned to the challenges Wilde was facing at the time. She recalled that Anderson was aware of the criticism and rumors that surrounded the release of Don’t Worry Darling and offered a piece of advice that stayed with her.

“The most rebellious thing you can do is stay soft. Don’t let it harden you.” For Wilde, those words carried a lot of meaning. During the film’s release, she found herself at the center of a media storm that generated countless stories and online discussions. While many of the headlines focused on alleged behind-the-scenes drama, Wilde said she often felt powerless to respond.

She admitted that remaining silent was one of the hardest parts of the experience.

“It was so hard, because I wanted to be like, ‘Can I just talk to people? Can I just go and say, ‘That’s not true! That’s not true!’” she explained.

However, she said she was repeatedly advised not to engage with every rumor or accusation because it would only make the situation worse. “And it was like, ‘No, that won’t help.’ And that was really hard.”

Wilde also shared that her biggest concern was not herself, but the people who worked on the movie. She wanted the focus to remain on the film and the hundreds of cast and crew members who helped bring it to life during a challenging production period that included filming during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I was like, ‘It’s not about me. It’s about this movie that everyone works so hard to make,’” Wilde said.

She continued by explaining that she felt a responsibility to support the entire team behind the project.

“And I felt like I was working on behalf of hundreds of people who had worked through Covid to make something really difficult.”

Even though she wanted to defend herself publicly, Wilde ultimately chose to stay focused on the film’s release. “I felt frustrated that I couldn’t defend myself, but it also felt like, ‘Okay, it’s not about you. Just get the movie out,’” she said. Looking back now, Wilde believes the level of criticism she received was excessive.

“And the pummeling that I took was so insanely disproportionate.”

According to Wilde, Anderson’s advice helped her maintain perspective during a period that often felt overwhelming. Years later, the message still resonates with her, serving as a reminder not to let public criticism change who she is.

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