Don’t Worry Darling director Olivia Wilde ignited a storm last month when she claimed that Shia LaBeouf was fired from the movie to “protect” Florence Pugh. LaBeouf was quick to counter and said that he quit Don’t Worry Darling due to scheduling conflicts, backing up his claims with texts and a very unfavorable clip of Wilde practically begging him to stay in the movie.

Soon after, insiders who worked on Don’t Worry Darling revealed that Florence Pugh was also unhappy with Wilde’s on-set behavior, and it’s quite evident from her absence from the press tours. There are also reports that Pugh was paid far less than her co-star, Harry Styles, who replaced LaBeouf and also happens to be Wilde’s boyfriend.

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Olivia Wilde is in damage control mode now and has been addressing the many controversies surrounding Don’t Worry Darling lately. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Wilde asserted that she fired LaBeouf and that the leaked texts don’t tell the whole story.

Apparently, the texts and video Shia LaBeouf released were sent by Wilde before Pugh voiced her concerns with the Honey Boy star’s “intensity.” An anonymous source familiar with the situation told Vanity Fair that LaBeouf gave an ultimatum to Wilde to choose between him or Pugh, and the director went with the latter, letting LaBeouf believe that he quit instead of getting fired.

“This issue is so much more nuanced than can be explained in private texts released out of context. All I’ll say is he was replaced, and there was no going forward with him. I wish him the best in his recovery.”

How much truth there is to these new developments can’t be ascertained, but Don’t Worry Darling has turned into a PR nightmare for the makers. Every day, a new row erupts. Recently, it was Harry Styles spitting on Chris Pine, which, of course, has been refuted by the former One Direction member’s reps.

Florence Pugh is Done With Olivia Wilde And Don’t Worry Darling

     Warner Bros. Pictures

Florence Pugh refused to even look Olivia Wilde in the eye at the Don’t Worry Darling premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, and she skipped the press conference for the film too. Pugh has also refrained from promoting or talking about Don’t Worry Darling and is set to miss the film’s New York premiere as well.

Although Pugh is busy filming Dune: Part Two, Don’t Worry Darling is produced by the same studio and is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. So, it feels odd that she is barely doing any press for the film. On the other hand, Wilde can’t stop gushing about Pugh’s Don’t Worry Darling performance, which, as per the early reviews, is the saving grace of an otherwise bland movie. Wilde echoed her statement from last month, saying she fired LaBeouf to protect Pugh.

However, LaBeouf’s leaked video, which is still circulating on the web, is doing no favors to Wilde, who can be heard referring to Pugh as “Miss Flo” in a condescending tone. Hopefully, Wilde will manage to stay out of controversy for the next two weeks. Don’t Worry Darling is already receiving mixed reviews, and all this drama will only add to its box office woes.

“My responsibility was towards her. I’m like a mother wolf. Making the call was tricky, but in a way he understood. I don’t think it would’ve been a process he enjoyed. He comes at his work with an intensity that can be combative. It wasn’t the ethos that I demand in my productions. I want him to get well and to evolve because I think it’s a great loss to the film industry when someone that talented is unable to work.”

Don’t Worry Darling debuts in theaters on September 23, 2022.