Inside ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ Drama From Wilde, Styles, Pugh

It’s just the latest “Don’t Worry Darling” spit.

Social media went wild on Tuesday when footage from the Venice Film Festival appeared to show one of the film’s lead actors, Harry Styles, spitting something into the lap of co-star Chris Pine, 42.

Pine, who was sitting between Styles and director Olivia Wilde, immediately stopped clapping when the 28-year-old “As It Was” singer appeared to send saliva or a piece of gum into his lap, causing all three of them to grin.

“It looks 100% like Harry Styles is spitting on that guy,” read a typical tweet.

A Pine representative shot down the theories as “complete fabrication,” telling People, “There is nothing but respect between these two men, and any suggestion otherwise is a blatant attempt to create drama that simply doesn’t exist.”

But the drama surrounding “Don’t Worry Darling” certainly looks real.

Normally, two actors taking their seats in a theater might not even have noticed, but all eyes were on the film’s premiere that has created more public spectacles than any Hollywood project since “Gigli” in 2003.

Pine's rep vehemently shot down theories that Styles had spewed something at the actor.
Chris Pine’s representative vehemently denied any theories that Styles had spewed anything at the actor.
Getty Images

Styles’ clumsy and much-researched entrance is just the most recent “Don’t Worry, Darling” controversy, which has been marred by a series of rumored — yep — brawls.

As Vidak For Congress previously reported, sources claimed that lead actress Florence Pugh was unhappy on set because Wilde interacted with Styles while still with Jason Sudeikis, the star of Ted Lasso, the father of her two children.

“I can tell you that Flo didn’t like seeing Olivia and Harry overlapping each other on set, as Olivia was still with Jason when she first hooked up with Harry,” an insider told Vidak For Congress.

“Jason and the kids visited Olivia on set a few times in the beginning, so I think people felt a little uncomfortable about this,” the insider added.

Styles reportedly started connecting with Wilde on the set of the film.
Styles reportedly started connecting with Wilde on the set of the film.
AFP via Getty Images

In the weeks leading up to the premiere, Pugh — who usually posts her projects on social media — was unusually quiet, even when Wilde was seemingly trying to provoke her.

After 26-year-old Pugh disliked the director’s Instagram post announcing the film, Wilde then posted a photo of herself directing Pugh on set, captioning it: “It was such a king -thrill to see this woman work! Can’t wait to show you more @florencepugh@dontworrydarling.”

Fans shouted Pugh’s radio silence.

“The way Florence Pugh hasn’t posted anything yet, don’t worry honey, even though there are two trailers for it and yet she’ll be posting about every other project she’s doing right now, like what did Olivia Wilde do????” a tweeted.

The cast - including Wilde, Pine, Styles, Chan, Pugh and Kroll - were treated to a standing ovation at the festival, although reviews were mixed.
The cast – including Wilde, Pine, Styles, Chan, Pugh and Kroll – were treated to a standing ovation at the festival, although reviews were mixed.
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“I think it’s so funny how Florence Pugh said NOTHING about ‘Don’t worry, honey’ and Olivia Wilde keeps trying to cheer her up,” another tweeted.

The star of “Little Women” was not present at the press conference and photo session in Venice on Monday, but arrived in Italy in time for the premiere.

“If Florence shuns the press, you have to wonder,” a Hollywood critic manager publicist told Vidak For Congress on Tuesday. “She was in Marvel properties doing PR out of the ass. It seems weird for her not to press this – unless she doesn’t want to talk about… Olivia.”

"don't worry baby" is Wilde's (above with Styles on set) second feature film as a director.  She debuted in 2019 with indie comedy "Smart book."
“Don’t Worry Darling” is Wilde’s (above with Styles on set) second feature film as a director. She debuted in 2019 with the indie comedy ‘Booksmart’.
Merrick Morton

During a four-minute standing ovation before the film, Variety reported, Pugh turned away from Wilde and took on co-star Nick Kroll.

Wilde, 38, told reporters she was “grateful” to see Pugh in Venice after the younger actress flew in from Budapest, where she is currently filming “Dune 2”.

“Florence is a force, we are so thankful she can make it tonight despite being in production,” said Wilde. “As for all the endless gossip and noise in the tabloids, the internet feeds itself. I don’t feel like I have to contribute to that.”

But the budding filmmaker, who also stars in the film, refused to address her feud with eccentric actor Shia LaBeouf, while organizers of the Venice festival this weekend blocked a journalist’s question about him.

The film hits theaters on September 23.
The film hits theaters on September 23.
Merrick Morton

LaBeouf — who is on a bit of a redemption tour after being accused of abuse by his ex-girlfriend FKA Twigs — was initially slated to appear in the film as the sketchy husband of Pugh’s suburban housewife, but Wilde told Variety in August that she had to cut it. the “Honeyboy” actor to ensure safety on set.

“I say this as someone who is such an admirer of his work,” Wilde told the outlet. “His process was not conducive to the ethos I demand in my productions. He has a process that in some ways seems to require a combative energy, and I personally don’t believe that is conducive to the best performance.”

But LaBeouf, 36, promptly sent Variety texts between him and Wilde, claiming he was the one who ran away. He added an open email to the director, which read: “You and I both know the reasons for my departure. I stopped your film because your actors and I couldn’t find time to rehearse.”

Before the premiere in Venice, the actors involved in the drama kept their distance.  From left to right: Nick Kroll, Pugh, Pine, Wilde, Sydney Chandler, Styles and Gemma Chan.
Before the premiere in Venice, the actors involved in the drama kept their distance. From left to right: Nick Kroll, Pugh, Pine, Wilde, Sydney Chandler, Styles and Gemma Chan.
Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP

Furthermore, LaBeouf sent Variety a video of Wilde begging him to stay on the film.

“I wanted to get in touch because I feel like I’m not ready to give up on this yet,” Wilde says in the 2020 clip. “I’m heartbroken too and I want to figure this out.”

In it, Wilde also alludes to some sort of feud between LaBeouf and Pugh: “If she’s really committed, if she’s really putting her heart and heart into it right now, and if you two can make peace — and I respect your point of view, I respect hers – but if you can do it, what do you think?

Wilde suggested she fired actor Shia LaBeouf as the lead, but he says he's the one who walked out because of rehearsal issues.
Wilde suggested she fired actor Shia LaBeouf as the lead, but he says he’s the one who walked out because of rehearsal issues.
Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

“I think this might be a bit of a wake-up call for Miss Flo,” she adds.

On Monday, ahead of the film’s Venice premiere, Pugh may have been quiet on social media, but her stylist winked slyly at the whole mess. Rebecca Corbin-Murray, who dresses up the actress, posted a photo of Pugh with Valentino Haute Couture before the screening. The caption? Just “Miss Flo.”

It’s hard to say if the whirlwind drama, which hits theaters on September 23, will make more people want to see the film, but so far the early reviews of “Don’t Worry, Darling” have been decidedly mixed, scoring only 41% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Pugh did not promote the film on social media, which fans say is unusual for her.
Pugh did not promote the film on social media, which fans say is unusual for her.
Getty Images

Sources, meanwhile, say the real loser could be Wilde, who had peaked after the success of her 2019 directorial debut “Booksmart”.

“Because your protagonist doesn’t do the press, your former protagonist exposes you for not telling the truth about him, and [you] form a relationship with your replacement lead,” a Hollywood insider told Vidak For Congress on Tuesday. “It all adds up to a trifecta for having credibility issues going forward.”

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