Olivia Wilde is telling all about why she fired Shia LaBeouf from Don’t Worry Darling.
When Olivia’s directorial debut was first announced, it was Shia who was starring opposite Florence Pugh and not Harry Styles. Now, in a new interview, Olivia reveals the main reason Shia was replaced. Speaking with Variety, she said:
“I say this as someone who is such an admirer of his work: His process was not conducive to the ethos that I demand in my productions.
He has a process that, in some ways, seems to require a combative energy, and I don’t personally believe that is conducive to the best performances.”
At the time the decision was made, Olivia stated her set had a “no a**holes policy.”
A few months following the firing, Shia was accused of sexual, psychological, and emotional abuse by former partner and co-star FKA Twigs. In Olivia’s interview with Variety, she alluded to this and said:
“A lot came to light after this happened that really troubled me, in terms of his behavior. For our film, what we really needed was an energy that was incredibly supportive. Particularly with a movie like this, I knew that I was going to be asking Florence to be in very vulnerable situations, and my priority was making her feel safe and making her feel supported.
I believe that creating a safe, trusting environment is the best way to get people to do their best work. Ultimately, my responsibility is to the production and to the cast to protect them. That was my job.”
Harry Styles took over the role vacated by Shia, and Olivia and Harry’s relationship has since blossomed into romance.
In the same Variety interview, Olivia made rare comments about Harry and why the couple have chosen to guard their privacy when it comes to their love affair:
“I’m not going to say anything about it because I’ve never seen a relationship benefit from being dragged into the public arena.
We both go out of our way to protect our relationship. I think it’s out of experience, but also just out of deep love.”
The notoriously private couple have been linked since January 2021.
