Harry Styles Spit-Gate, Chris Pine “Astral Projecting” and Florence Pugh (Avoiding) Eye Contact: How ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ Drama Kept Burning After Venice Premiere (2024)

After the weeks of drama that had engulfed Olivia Wilde‘s much-hyped sophom*ore feature Don’t Worry Darling, drama that somehow managed to crescendo even higher following an awkward press conference at the Venice Film Festival on Monday (where questions were shut down by the moderator), there was no doubt some hope that all the scandal would be put to one side for the star-studded world premiere later that evening.

And, for the most part, it was.

Thanks to Harry Styles, the fans outside (many of whom had camped overnight) ensured that Warner Bros. Discovery’s psychological thriller generated probably the loudest screams of the festival, although the welcome for lead star Florence Pugh hit a similar decibel range. The screams continued beyond the red carpet and into the Sala Grande before the screening, while afterward, the film generated a solid seven-minute standing ovation.

But eagle-eyed cameras caught several moments that poured fuel back on the bonfire of controversy, created several fresh memes, and ensured that much of the social media discussion is still firmly away from the film itself.

In what has become an overnight viral video hit, as Styles sits down in the Sala Grande for the Don’t Worry Darling screening, he appears to spit at co-star Chris Pine. Or does he? Pine’s rep denies this, calling it “complete fabrication,” though the reaction from Pine certainly suggests otherwise. In any case, the footage has arguably become the biggest Twitter talking point from the premiere, generating millions of views.

Perhaps in second place, another piece of video footage captured after the screening shows Pugh acknowledging the cheers and applause, looking embarrassed, throwing kisses to the crowd and laughing with co-star Nick Kroll. But what it doesn’t show her do is make any eye contact whatsoever with her director Wilde, with watchers suggesting that she didn’t do so once during the entire seven-minute ovation. The two sat four seats away from each other and didn’t appear to interact whatsoever on the red carpet beforehand.

Given that much of the drama surrounding the film is connected to rumors of a rift between Wilde and her lead actress, who skipped the film’s Venice press conference (her plane landed while it was taking place — resulting in another meme-worthy moment of her cheerfully strolling, Aperol spritz in hand), the clips from the premiere only served to increase the level of “internet gossip,” as Wilde had described it to reporters.

In what The Hollywood Reporter has already suggested will become an impressive “Controversies” section on the psychological thriller’s Wikipedia page, tabloid rumors emerged in mid-August that Pugh — who plays a 1950s suburban housewife in an idyllic, cult-like community called Victory — had fallen out with Wilde after the director started a relationship with Styles during the shoot. These rumors were given a more solid foundation just a couple of days later when it was reported that Pugh had been paid less than a third of what her male co-star made ($700,000 to Styles’ $2.5 million, reportedly).

Just days before Venice started, there was another explosion. In a lengthy interview in which Wilde said there was “no validity” to claims of the pay gap, she also alluded to firing Shia LaBeouf(whose role went to Styles), claiming she did so over his “combative energy” and to keep Pugh “safe.”

LaBeouf immediately hit back, writing a lengthy public email —and including several SMS messages he’d received from Wilde as evidence— asserting he had “quit” the movie. A leaked 2020 video message appeared to confirm LaBeouf’s side of things, showing Wilde in her car pleading with him to change his mind while also seemingly blaming Pugh — or “Miss Flo,” as she referred to her — for being concerned about working with the actor.

With this the final update on the matter going into the festival, many eyes were on the press conference in the hope that the dustup would be addressed by Wilde. Not so. After Wilde batted away a question about Pugh’s absence and their rumored falling out, saying she didn’t want to contribute to “all the noise,” the moderator then shut down THR’s attempt to ask about LaBeouf.

On the lighter side of the online frenzy, Pine —a potential spit target later on in the day —became a viral hit himself because of the press conference. While much of the attention was on Wilde’s refusal to talk about the drama, photos from the media meet showed him looking spaced out by the proceedings. Or, as several Twitter users described it: “Chris Pine astral projecting.”

A rep for Pine addressed “spit-gate” in Venice.“This is a ridiculous story, a complete fabrication and the result of an odd online illusion that is clearly deceiving and allows for foolish speculation,” the rep said Tuesday in a statement. “Just to be clear, Harry Styles did NOT spit on Chris Pine.There is nothing but respect between these two men and any suggestion otherwise is a blatant attempt to create drama that simply does not exist.”

Sept. 6, 11:30 a.m. Updated with statement from Chris Pine’s rep.