First things first, the Olivia-Wilde-directed Don't Worry Darling hits theaters September 23rd...
- During the shoot, in what would become some of the biggest tabloid fodder of the past couple years, Olivia Wilde and Harry Styles fell for each other, then started dating shortly after, in the wake of Wilde's divorce from America's favorite uncle, Ted Lasso, aka Jason Sudeikis.
- However, originally, Shia LaBeouf was cast in the role that ultimately went to Harry Styles. And in a recent Variety interview from Aug 24, Wilde implied that she fired LaBeouf from the project, claiming, "His process was not conducive to the ethos that I demand in my productions. He has a process that, in some ways, seems to require a combative energy, and I don't personally believe that is conducive to the best performances. I believe that creating a safe, trusting environment is the best way to get people to do their best work. Ultimately, my responsibility is to the production and to the cast to protect them. That was my job."
- Though, two days later, LeBeouf went on the defensive, setting the record with Variety, saying that he in fact quit the project - and brought the receipts to prove it - including a private video message he received from Wilde, practically begging him to rejoin the project…
here is the video of olivia telling shia she wants to work it out and that if “miss flo” could “commit” more than it could happen.
— sophia (@hellopugh) August 26, 2022
please ignore that hashtag on the video I didn’t put it there. pic.twitter.com/vAQPBqPRYE
- This rebuttle was part of LaBeouf's effort to clear his name, after apparently turning his life around, embracing Catholicism, and attempting to save his career (which seems to be working, as he was cast in Francis Ford Coppola's next just last week).
- In the above video Wilde sent to LaBeouf, Wilde nonchalantly appears to throw the film's star, Florence Pugh - whom she refers to as "Miss Flo" - under the bus, hinting at Pugh's own rehearsal process as one of the reasons LaBeouf potentially left the project.
- Due to all the drama (and almost assuredly the slight in the video from Wilde), the always-great Pugh then dropped out of the impending Don't Worry Darling promotional tour. However, Pugh agreed to attend the world premiere red carpet event at the Venice Film Festival today, but opted out of the post-screening press conference itself. In fact, here's Pugh grabbing a drink during the press conference, which has already become a big meme…
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
- During this same press conference, yet another star of the film, Chris Pine, for whatever reason (likely despising the drama, as one should), seemed to check out completely, spurring yet another great meme...
somebody get chris pine outta there #Venezia79 pic.twitter.com/zmYxmvpbka
— bethany (@fiImgal) September 5, 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
you can almost see the screams catching in his throat pic.twitter.com/AXtiPAd4zx
— anna (@romansgerri) September 5, 2022
- And now, for the cherry on top, what's sending this whole, insane charade into the gossip stratosphere, footage has emerged from the Venice screening of Styles seemingly SPITTING on Pine - for who knows why - and Pine reacting by simply laughing to himself incredulously...
Did Harry Styles spit on Chris Pine???
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 6, 2022
THIS LEAGUE@ChicksInTheOff
pic.twitter.com/26g7ZZSkrU
And we’re back! This time, in slow-mo! https://t.co/BmRczlklKP
— Darling Worrier #1 (@yosoymichael) September 6, 2022
As all of this hits a fever pitch, the internet has essentially cast Wilde and Styles as the villains, and Pine and Pugh as the king and queen that they are, with LaBeouf somewhere in the middle, though even he's found a whole new sympathy from fans.
This is all, of course, after Jason Sudeikis had ex Olivia Wilde served on stage while she was debuting Don't Worry Darling footage to a live audience at Cinema-Con back in April, which caused all kinds of drama and headlines as well.
Finally, what makes it all even funnier, is that the highly-buzzed-about movie itself debuted today on Rotten Tomatoes at a whopping 39%.
Truly, I've never seen anything like this...
The energy twitter has had today about this movie pic.twitter.com/EDXFKehGhg
— Michael Benjamin (@mfbenji) September 6, 2022