Venice Film Festival Blocks Olivia Wilde's Question About Shia LaBeouf During 'Don't Worry Darling' Press Conference

The Venice Film Festival prevented a journalist from asking a question about Shia LaBeouf during a conference of press for Olivia Wilde's "Don't Worry Honey" Monday.

LaBeouf was supposed to star in "Don't Worry Darling," but he left the project in the fall 2020 and was replaced by Harry Styles. Back-and-forth between Wilde and Styles about what exactly happened next made headlines ahead of the film's world premiere in Venice. After Wilde told Variety in a cover story that LaBeouf's process "wasn't conducive to the ethics I demand in my productions," the actor denied being fired, saying he “left the film due to lack of rehearsal time.”

When a reporter started asking about LaBeouf on Monday at the press conference, the moderator closed it saying the question had already been answered because "it's on the internet". But that was not the case. Before being asked about LaBeouf, Wilde answered a question about alleged tensions between her and the film's star Florence Pugh.

Wilde dodged that question, saying, "As with all endless tabloid gossip, the internet is feeds itself. I don't feel the need to contribute; I think it is sufficiently self-feeding."

In an email to Variety, where LaBeouf denied being fired, he included a video Wilde allegedly sent to him on August 19, 2020, two days after he claimed he quit.

"I feel like I'm not ready to give up yet, and so am I, I'm heartbroken and I want to figure this out," Wilde says in the video. "You know, I think this might be a bit of a red flag for Miss Flo, and I want to know if you're ready to give it a shot. the blow with me, with us. If she really commits, if she really puts her mind and heart into it at this point and if you can make peace - and I respect your point of view, I respect hers - but if you can do that, what do you think? Is there hope? Would you like to let me know?"

Pugh did not attend the "Don't Worry Darling" press conference. The festival said the actress' flight to Venice from Budapest, Hungary - where she is currently filming the 'Dune' sequel - did not arrive until after the press conference, giving her time to walk the red carpet, but not talk to media.

Wilde was joined at the Monday afternoon press conference by her cast members Harry Styles, Gemma Chan and Chris Pine.

"Don't Worry Darling" is Wilde's second film following her directorial debut, “Booksmart.” The thriller centers on Jack (Harry Styles) and Alice (Pugh), whose seemingly happy marriage in an upgraded version of 1960s suburbia becomes increasingly strained when Alice begins to have frightening visions .

Comments