‘The Invite’ Star Olivia Wilde Responds After Critics Say She Looks Like “An Actual Dead Body” in Viral Photo
Olivia Wilde is addressing the internet’s intense reaction to a red carpet photo that caused a wave of online comments about her appearance. The actress and director recently opened up about the viral moment, saying she found the situation surprising, funny, and a little strange.
During an appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast on June 17, Wilde talked about the photo from the San Francisco International Film Festival that quickly spread across social media. Some users claimed she looked unhealthy, with others making extreme comments about her appearance.
Wilde said she never expected the image to become such a big topic.
“We did the red carpet, and then I saw that picture and I was like, ‘Alright, but it probably won’t go very far. No one’s going to see this,’” Wilde explained on the podcast. “And then suddenly it was f–king everywhere. And I was like, ‘Oh, my God.’”
The “Don’t Worry Darling” director recalled seeing people online making serious claims about her health. Some users suggested she was sick, while others even tried to guess medical conditions she might have.
Wilde said people were “diagnosing” her with Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder that can cause symptoms including weight loss. However, she explained that there was nothing wrong and that the reaction came from a single unflattering photo.
For Wilde, the situation was mostly amusing because she believes many people have experienced the same thing. She said a bad photo can happen to anyone, but the difference is that celebrities often have those moments shared with millions of people.
“All of us have had this situation where you take a bad picture,” Wilde said. “Imagine if then it was in, like, a hundred million people’s phones and you’re like, ‘Oh no! That is not how I actually look.’ I laughed so hard.”
The actress also said her close friends helped make the situation easier by joking about it with her. According to Wilde, the people closest to her are usually the first ones to make fun of moments like this.
“The thing that is great about having really good friends is that they are the ones to laugh the hardest,” she shared. “I guarantee any joke that’s been made about me, my friends made it first, in a much funnier way.”
While Wilde found humor in the situation, she also pointed out a bigger issue with how women are often discussed online. She said the reaction showed how quickly people judge women’s appearances and turn a single image into a larger conversation.
At the same time, Wilde admitted she understood why some people reacted the way they did after seeing the photo.
“On that one, I’ll hand it to them, that picture was so crazy,” she said. “I, too, would’ve been like, ‘Is she OK?’”
Despite the online attention, Wilde made it clear that she is doing well and that the viral moment was simply the result of an unfortunate camera angle. The actress continues to work on new projects as both a performer and filmmaker.
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!
