Olivia Wilde breaks silence on ‘intense’ backlash after ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ controversy

Olivia Wilde has opened up about the intense public scrutiny she faced during the release of Don’t Worry Darling and the unexpected advice that helped her navigate the difficult period.

The 42-year-old actress and filmmaker reflected on the controversy surrounding the 2022 psychological thriller during an appearance on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast, where she shared how Pamela Anderson’s perspective helped her deal with the pressure surrounding the film’s promotion.

Wilde explained that after watching Anderson’s documentary Pamela, a Love Story, she reached out to the actress and model to show her support.

“I actually learned this from — this sounds so crazy,” Wilde said before explaining that she messaged Anderson after seeing the documentary.

“I was like, ‘Yo, respect. Just want to say big fan,’” she recalled.

Wilde revealed that she was aware Anderson had experienced her own struggles with public attention and that Anderson offered her advice based on her personal experiences in the spotlight.

“The most rebellious thing you can do is stay soft. Don’t let it harden you,” Anderson told Wilde.

Reflecting on the Don’t Worry Darling press tour, Wilde admitted it was difficult to stay quiet while facing criticism and rumors.

“I wanted to be like, ‘Can I just talk to people? Can I just go and say, ‘That’s not true! That’s not true!’” Wilde shared.

However, she realized that responding to every claim would not change the situation.

“And it was like, ‘No, that won’t help,’” she said.

The Booksmart director added that she felt frustrated about not being able to defend herself but eventually focused on the bigger picture.

“I felt frustrated that I couldn’t defend myself, but it also felt like, ‘Okay, it’s not about you. Just get the movie out,’” Wilde explained.

Wilde also reflected on the level of criticism she received, saying, “The pummeling that I took was so insanely disproportionate.”

Don’t Worry Darling, which premiered in 2022, starred Florence Pugh and Harry Styles and became one of the most discussed films of the year due to both its storyline and the surrounding media attention.

Years later, Wilde continues to reflect on the experience and the lessons she learned from navigating one of Hollywood’s most publicized controversies.