There seems to be a lot to worry about, darling. Olivia Wilde’s highly anticipated new film Don’t Worry Darling has been making headlines since filming began, but in the weeks leading up to its premiere at the 2022 Venice Film Festival, the movie has been embroiled in an unprecedented amount of drama.
With a star-studded ensemble cast featuring Wilde herself, Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Chris Pine, Gemma Chan, and more, it seems no one has gone untouched from the tumultuous behind-the-scenes tension. The rumor mill began with whispers of a feud between Wilde and Pugh, continued with a public back-and-forth with Shia LaBeouf (who was initially set to star in the movie), and ended with Styles allegedly spitting on Pine during the premiere.
someone needs to begin a full fledged investigation into what happened on that don’t worry darling set… wdym harry styles spitting on chris pine on NATIONAL TELEVISION? pic.twitter.com/jpow9JT8pk
— ceo of kory (@korysverse) September 6, 2022
As Styles took his seat at the Salla Grande for the film’s screening, videos caught the musician appearing to spit in Pine’s lap, causing the Wonder Woman actor to pause his applause and smile in shock. The moment set the internet on fire with memes galore.
A day later, Pine’s representatives addressed the incident. The statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter reads, “This is a ridiculous story, a complete fabrication and the result of an odd online illusion that is clearly deceiving and allows for foolish speculation.”
It continues, “Just to be clear, Harry Styles did NOT spit on Chris Pine. There is nothing but respect between these two men and any suggestion otherwise is a blatant attempt to create drama that simply does not exist.”
The premiere incited a seven-minute standing ovation. Pugh was seen in clips waving to the audience, blowing kisses, and embracing her co-star, Nick Kroll. Many have noted that it appears the actress avoided eye contact with Wilde, but a clip did surface of the two applauding one another.
Over on the carpet, Sydney Chandler, Chan, and Pugh, posed alongside one another while Pine snapped pics of Pugh with a disposable camera. Styles and Wilde seemed to keep to themselves and later posed with the entire cast.
At the press conference ahead of the red carpet world premiere, Pine was seen visibly disassociating from the proceedings as moderators shut down questions regarding LaBeouf’s exit from the project.
Wilde addressed Pugh’s absence, per PEOPLE, “Florence is a force, and we are so grateful that she’s able to make it tonight despite being in production on Dune. I know, as a director, how disruptive it is to lose an actor even for a day, so I’m very grateful to her, 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 honored I am to have her as our lead. She’s amazing in the film.”
Pugh, who is currently amid production for the Dune: Part Two, arrived in Venice a bit later than the rest of her castmates and missed the panel.
Wilde’s and Pugh’s stylists seemed to have chimed in on the drama as well. In a video shared by LaBeouf to dispel Wilde’s claimed that she fired him from her film, Wilde refers to Pugh as “Miss Flo.” Pugh’s longtime stylist Rebecca Corbin-Murray ironically used the nickname to caption her Instagram post. Wilde’s stylist Karla Welch seemingly also touched on the subject writing on her Instagram Stories, “There’s always more to the story…”
The film (hitting theaters on Sept. 23) tells the tale of a 1950s housewife Alice (Pugh), as she and her husband Jack (Styles) navigate living in a utopian experimental community. When Alice begins to unravel, she discovers some disturbing truths about a collective known as the Victory Project.
While reviews for the film have been mixed, Pugh has been lauded for her impressive performance. Below, read the most hysterical takes on Don’t Worry Darling‘s BTS drama .
DON’T WORRY DARLING cast and crew reunion hosted by andy cohen
— 𝔪𝔢𝔤 (@bymeg) September 6, 2022
Harry at work#DontWorryDarling #HarryStyles #ChrisPine #VeniceFilmFestival pic.twitter.com/k0c0zkOYbD
— Trina Watters (@trinawatters) September 6, 2022
let her interview the don’t worry darling cast pic.twitter.com/OrT5QVpNjl
— Marc (@MarcSnetiker) September 6, 2022
me filling the room with negative energy bc i don’t wanna be there pic.twitter.com/q22wQ6GYVW
— Kate Halliwell (@katehalliwell) September 5, 2022
florence pugh avoiding the conference and its drama at the venice film festival and enjoying a spritz. this is what i call iconic behaviour, no one is doing it like her pic.twitter.com/G7iPdXp45N
— fra🍂🫧 | #1 kit connor protector (@goldenheartvhes) September 5, 2022
