Four years later, Olivia Wilde can finally laugh about the Don’t Worry Darlingcircus – well, mostly.
As Wilde prepares to launch her new film The Invite, the director is reflecting on the whirlwind that turned her 2022 psychological thriller into one of Hollywood’s most unforgettable press tours.
“It was so strange,” Wilde said on Call Her Daddy. “The world was also in such a weird place because it was COVID so everything was so topsy-turvy weird.”
What began as excitement quickly snowballed into nonstop headlines. From her relationship with Harry Styles and Shia LaBeouf’s controversial exit to Florence Pugh rumours and the infamous “Spitgate,” the movie often seemed overshadowed by off-screen drama.
Speaking about her romance with Styles, Wilde recalled. “People were f—ing pissed. It’s almost like the happiness made them mad.”
One of the toughest moments came during CinemaCOn, when she was unexpectedly served custody papers involving ex Jason Sudeikis while presenting the film.
“It was incredibly traumatizing,” Wilde admitted. “It was like, I cannot f–king believe this is happening to me here.”
She also addressed the viral Venice Film Festival moment that had fans convinced Styles spat on Chris Pine.
“It really looked like it,” Wilde said with a laugh, despite representatives for both actors denying the claim.
Looking back, Wilde believes the frenzy reflected more than just celebrity gossip.
“It must have been that America was trying to avoid its own pain,” she said of the pandemic era. “Because that must have been an escape.”
The drama may have stolen headlines, but Wilde is hoping The Invite gets people talking for what’s on screen this time.
2026-06-26 14:44:00
