Florence Pugh shares a heartfelt message to the Don't Worry Darling cast and crew amid major controversies surrounding the film. Directed by and starring Olivia Wilde, Don't Worry Darling features an all-star cast including pop icon Harry Styles, Star Trek's Chris Pine, and Captain Marvel's Gemma Chan. The film follows Jack (Styles) and Alice (Pugh) Chambers, a seemingly happily married couple who live in a picturesque experimental community created by Jack's business. However, things take a turn for the worst when Alice begins to question her husband's company and learns the dark secrets it entails. It also marks Wilde's second directorial outing after 2019's Booksmart.
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Don't Worry Darling was immersed in drama since its inception. After director Wilde began dating co-star Styles, many questioned her motives for casting him after letting go of Shia LaBeouf to play the role. To add more fuel to the fire, Pugh rarely addressed the project or posted about it, leading fans to believe there were problems on set between the two. Rumors were further heightened when sources on set confirmed their falling out, saying that Wilde ignored Pugh's role in the film to focus on her relationship with Styles. All of this drama came to a head during the film's premiere at The Venice International Film Festival, where Pugh was noticeably absent from many of the press junkets and left the screening early, quickly exiting after the credits.
Despite all the negative attention surrounding the film, Pugh still took the time to post a sweet message to her Instagram celebrating Don't Worry Darling's release and thanking the cast and crew. Her post features different behind-the-scenes photos from set, including one of her and Wilde working together. Check out the post below:
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A post shared by Florence Pugh (@florencepugh)
Was All The Don't Worry Darling Controversy Real?
While Pugh's absence at the film's New York premiere and Don't Worry Darling's many press events seem to confirm the rumors are true, this message indicates otherwise. Considering Pugh's past treatment of Don't Worry Darling, this post is very odd, begging the question: was the drama ever real? The answer likely likes somewhere in between. Although Pugh does not thank Wilde directly in her tribute, she does share a photo of the pair working together looking very happy. It's possible the photo was snapped before the drama began to unfold. However, Pugh does tag Wilde in the picture, which means she intended Wilde to see it. Things likely weren't as bad as the internet made it out to be, but there is still indicators that there was some behind-the-scenes drama.
It's also important to note Pugh mentions there was great dedication and love on set, seemingly disputing rumors of a toxic work environment. While she could be referring to the hundreds of other crew members on set, her post was overall positive and grateful. It's impossible to know what exactly went down on set, but at the end of the day, it doesn't seem to matter. Don't Worry Darling is performing well in theaters, with its opening night bringing in $3.1 million. It's clear the controversies haven't kept fans away, as the movie is exceeding expectations at the box office. While fans may never know what really happened on the set of Don't Worry Darling, they can rest assured knowing it has at least made its mark on cinema.