Olivia Wilde Addresses Rumors She Left Jason Sudeikis for Harry Styles, Explains Why She ‘Replaced’ Shia LaBeouf

Unfortunately, it’s been difficult to talk about Don’t Worry Darling without talking about everything surrounding Don’t Worry Darling.

Among such chatter are unfounded assumptions, though it’s really not anyone’s business (not even a little bit), that Olivia Wilde—the director of the film—“left” Jason Sudeikis for DWD star Harry Styles. In a new Vanity Fair cover story, Wilde addressed this directly and also questioned why anyone would want to drum up such “false narratives” when there are children involved (Olivia and Jason have two children together).

“The complete horseshit idea that I left Jason for Harry is completely inaccurate,” Wilde told Julie Miller in the profile, available in full here. “Our relationship was over long before I met Harry.”

From there, Wilde pointed out that—“like any relationship”—her and Sudeikis’ partnership didn’t come to a sudden end. Instead, she explained, the two had “a very bumpy road” that ultimately led them to “officially” end their relationship during the initial phase of the pandemic. (In a 2021 GQ profile, Sudeikis gave a slightly different timeline and was quoted as having said he and Wilde split “in November 2020.”)

“I don’t understand the need to create false narratives and drama around this kind of stuff,” Wilde, who also stressed the importance of acknowledging one’s personal evolution when it comes to relationships, told the publication.

She also doubled down on why she fired Shia LaBeouf, who was originally cast in the Styles role. 

“My responsibility was towards [Florence],” Wilde said. “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.”

She added that what LaBeouf brought “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,” she said of LaBeouf. 

Don’t Worry Darling’s cast is led by the incomparable Florence Pugh, whose other upcoming entries include Sebastián Lelio’s The Wonder and next year’s Dune sequel. In addition to Styles, she’s also joined in the cast of Wilde’s follow-up to the acclaimed Booksmart by Chris Pine and Gemma Chan. Revisit the trailer below.