The long, messy history of Don’t Worry Darling, from rumoured feuds to Harry Styles’ ‘spit-gate’

Olivia Wilde’s new film Don’t Worry Darling has been making headlines for months for its behind the screen drama. 

And things have finally come to a head at the Venice Film Festival during premiere of the film, which stars Harry Styles and Florence Pugh. 

So strap in because here is the full history of the drama behind the headlines, and gossip that has plagued the whole Don’t Worry Darling two-year production. From film director Wilde fielding scandalous allegations, to Styles allegedly spitting on co-star Chris Pine. 

*Shia LeBeouf*

Let’s cast our minds back to April 2020 and the beginning of the rocky journey Don’t Worry Darling was about to make.  

The cast was announced with Shia LeBeouf, Florence Pugh and Chris Pine leading the dystopian 50s sci-fi.

In September of that year, LeBeouf was dropped from the film due to “scheduling conflicts” and replaced by Harry Styles, completing the current cast.

In December of that year two of LeBeouf’s ex-girlfriends, FKA Twigs and Karolyn Pho filed a lawsuit against the actor citing physical, emotional and sexual abuse. 

This fuelled speculation about the reasons behind why LeBeouf stepped back from the film, with a report in Variety claiming he was dropped from the film due to “poor behaviour” although both LeBeouf and Wilde declined to comment. 



it may be surprising to you to learn that i was in an emotionally and physically abusive relationship. it was hard for me to process too, during and after i never thought something like this would happen to me.