Olivia Wilde Addresses 'False Narrative' About Her Relationship With Harry Styles

After meeting on the set of Don’t Worry Darling, Wilde and Styles, who replaced Shia LaBeouf in the original movie cast, had "instant chemistry". The pair started dating soon after that, making their public debut as a couple at Style's manager Jeffrey Azoff’s intimate wedding ceremony in California in January.

While many fans were thrilled by the new pairing, the Tron: Legacy actress and the "Watermelon Sugar" singer also received backlash from people who criticized Wilde for dating a man 10 years her junior, particularly since her split from long-time fiancé and father of her two children Jason Sudeikis, 45, had only been announced a couple of months prior.

According to Buzzfeed, as soon as the first paparazzi photos of Wilde and Styles holding hands at the wedding surfaced in early January, thousands of her Instagram followers took to the social media platform to leave abusive comments on her posts.

Instagrammers told the Hollywood star she should be "ashamed" and accused her of "stealing" Harry, labeling their relationship as "embarrassing," per Buzzfeed.

The outlet also noted that some media reports at the time claimed that Wilde was already living together with Styles while they were filming their movie. According to the publication, the harassment from online trolls prompted the House alumn to restrict comments on her Instagram to only the people she follows.

The harassment of Wilde's budding relationship was also addressed in a Vogue article from late January, which argued that some publications were muddling the timeline of her breakup with her ex-fiancé at the influence of “Sudeikis insiders.”

Citing an Us Weekly cover titled “Did Olivia Cheat?” that claimed the actress was “risking it all” for “boy toy” Styles, as well as a separate report from the magazine stating that Sudeikis was hoping "to repair the family," Vogue clarified that, although Wilde and the Ted Lasso star announced their split in November 2020, they had, in fact, separated at the beginning of the year.

Almost a year later, Wilde spoke up about the fact that her romance was perceived as scandalous in her latest cover story with Vogue.

"It’s obviously really tempting to correct a false narrative. But I think what you realize is that when you’re really happy, it doesn’t matter what strangers think about you," she said. "All that matters to you is what’s real, and what you love, and who you love."

The January Vogue cover star also diplomatically stated that the opinions of "strangers" are of no interest to her.

"In the past 10 years, as a society, we have placed so much more value on the opinion of strangers rather than the people closest to us," said Wilde, sharing that "I’m happier than I’ve ever been."

The actress and director added: "And I’m healthier than I’ve ever been, and it’s just wonderful to feel that."