Did Olivia Wilde & Florence Pugh really clashed: Venice film festival tensions explained!
Throwback to 2022: Olivia Wilde dished on rumored feud with Florence Pugh at the Venice Film Festival. Was it all smoke or was there fire?
Updated : October 20, 2023 05:28 PM ISTThrowback to 2022: Olivia Wilde dished on rumored feud with Florence Pugh at the Venice Film Festival. Was it all smoke or was there fire?
Florence Pugh (Source: People)
Ah, September 2022. Amid the glitz and glamor of the Venice International Film Festival, one narrative dominated the limelight: the rumored feud between director Olivia Wilde and star Florence Pugh. As the crimson carpet rolled out, everyone yearned for clarity on this Tinseltown tension.
The Venice verdict
The plot thickened when Pugh, despite being the lead in Wilde's 'Don't Worry Darling', was conspicuously absent at its press conference. But amidst the whispers of a potential fall-out, a reporter couldn't resist probing, “Can you just clear the air and address whether there has been a falling out?”
Wilde, ever the diplomat, responded with grace and class: “Florence is a force and we are so grateful that she is able to make it tonight despite being in production on Dune... as for all the endless tabloid gossip and all the noise out there, I mean, the internet feeds itself. I don’t feel the need to contribute, I think it’s sufficiently well nourished.”
The feud flames had been fanned months prior, with Wilde's alleged firing of Shia LaBeouf to foster a "safe, trusting environment” on set for Pugh. But was this merely a Hollywood whisper or a cinematic storm in a teacup?
The 'Don’t Worry Darling' drama
'Don’t Worry Darling', a thriller with an ensemble cast including heartthrob Harry Styles, was as buzzed about off-screen as on. While reviews were polarized, Pugh's performance was universally applauded. Styles? Not so much. As the critics penned their thoughts, they didn't shy away from remarking on his "surprisingly dull and low-wattage performance."
Amidst this backdrop, on the Venice Film Festival red carpet, Pugh intriguingly hinted about women "pushing back and saying ‘no’, on and off camera”. Was this merely a passing comment, or a subtle nod to behind-the-scenes happenings?
The curtain call
Reflecting on the 'Don’t Worry Darling' frenzy, Wilde has consistently dismissed the rumored rift as “invented clickbait”. Pugh, on her part, remained enigmatic, letting silence speak volumes.
Oh, 2022! How Hollywood reveled in its dramas, both scripted and unscripted. While the reels of 'Don’t Worry Darling' played out for audiences, the real drama may always remain tantalizingly out of reach.
(Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)