Olivia Wilde denies Florence Pugh screaming-match claim on 'Don't Worry Darling' set
Director Olivia Wilde has rejected allegations of a production feud with Florence Pugh, stating she was previously told by the studio not to speak about it.
Olivia Wilde Denies Florence Pugh Screaming Match on 'Don't Worry Darling' Set
Olivia Wilde has rejected long-standing allegations that she engaged in a "screaming match" with actor Florence Pugh during the production of the 2022 psychological thriller Don't Worry Darling. The 42-year-old director and actress addressed the rumors in a recent interview with The Cut, stating I have never had a screaming match on my set
and asserting that she was always available during filming.
The controversy stems from a September 2022 report by Vulture, which cited an anonymous source claiming the two women had a blowout argument
roughly three-quarters into production. Those reports alleged that Pugh became frustrated with Wilde’s frequent unexplained absences
and the director's romantic relationship with co-star Harry Styles.
Wilde revealed that she wanted to deny the claims publicly when they first emerged but was prevented from doing so by the film's studio.
Wilde added that she resents that instruction and that the experience taught her it is not how she wants to handle such situations."I was told, 'Don't say a f**king word. Just go out there and smile,'"
Olivia Wilde, via The Cut
The production of Don't Worry Darling was plagued by various tabloid reports, including claims that Pugh was upset that Wilde began a relationship with Styles while still engaged to Jason Sudeikis. Other controversies surrounding the project included Shia LaBeouf denying he was fired and a viral video reportedly showing Styles spitting on Chris Pine.
At the 79th Venice International Film Festival, where the film debuted, observers noted that Pugh and Wilde appeared to keep a physical distance. Pugh did not attend the official press conference, though it was reported she was filming Dune: Part Two at the time. When asked by reporters at the festival to clear the air regarding a potential falling out, Wilde described Pugh as a force
and said she was honoured
to have her as the lead. She dismissed the rumors as endless tabloid gossip
, suggesting the internet is sufficiently well nourished
without her contribution.
Wilde's version of events was supported by 40 crew members, including producer Katie Silberman, costume designer Arianne Phillips, producer Miri Yoon, and cinematographer Matthew Libatique. In a joint statement, the group called the rumors of unprofessional behavior absurd
and completely false
, stating that Wilde was an incredible leader and director
and that there was never a screaming match between her and any member of the cast.
Pugh has never openly commented on the reported feud. She previously shared a photo of the cast and crew on Instagram, writing that she would always be grateful
for her time on the film.
Reflecting on the period, Wilde told Elle magazine that the situation highlighted how the media pits women against one another
and noted that it is shocking to see so many untruths about yourself traded as fact
. She described her relationship with Styles as loving and wonderful and joyful
, though it ended in late 2022. Wilde also spoke with the podcast Call Her Daddy
about the breakdown of her nearly decade-long relationship with Sudeikis, with whom she has two children: son Otis Alexander, 12, and daughter Daisy Josephine, 9.
Wilde is returning to the spotlight this year with The Invite, a film she directed and stars in, based on Cesc Gay’s Spanish-language book The People Upstairs. The story involves two couples whose dinner party takes a strange turn. Wilde appeared at the Los Angeles premiere of the film on Wednesday, June 25, 2026, alongside co-stars Seth Rogen and Penélope Cruz and screenwriter Rashida Jones. The Invite is scheduled to hit theaters on July 10.
