It’s just the latest “Don’t Worry Darling” spat.
Social media went wild Tuesday as footage from the Venice Film Festival seemed to show one of the movie’s leads, Harry Styles, spitting something into the lap of co-star Chris Pine, 42.
Pine, who was sitting between Styles and director Olivia Wilde, stopped clapping immediately as the 28-year-old “As It Was” singer appeared to send saliva or a chunk of chewing gum into his lap, causing all three to smirk.
“It 100% looks like Harry Styles spit on that man,” read one typical tweet.
A representative for Pine shot down the theories as “complete fabrication,” telling People, “There is nothing but respect between these two men, and any suggestion otherwise is a blatant attempt to create drama that simply does not exist.”
But the drama around “Don’t Worry Darling” sure looks real.
Normally, two actors settling into their seats in a theater might not even have been noticed, but all eyes were on the premiere of the movie that has created more public spectacles than any Hollywood project since “Gigli” back in 2003.
Styles’ awkward and much-scrutinized entrance is only the latest off-set controversy for “Don’t Worry, Darling,” which has been marred by a series of rumored — yep — spats.
As Page Six previously reported, sources alleged that lead actress Florence Pugh was unhappy on set because of Wilde hooking up with Styles while still with “Ted Lasso” star Jason Sudeikis, the father of her two children.
“I can tell you for a fact that Flo seeing Olivia and Harry all over each other on set did not go down well as Olivia was still with Jason when she first hooked up with Harry,” one insider told Page Six.
“Jason and the kids visited Olivia on set at the beginning a few times, so I think this all made people feel a little uncomfortable,” the insider added.
In the weeks leading up to the premiere, Pugh — who typically publicizes her projects on social media — was uncharacteristically quiet, even as Wilde seemingly tried to draw her out.
After Pugh, 26, failed to “like” the director’s Instagram post announcing the film’s trailer, Wilde then posted a photo of herself directing Pugh on set, with the caption, “Watching this woman work was such a f–king thrill! Cannot wait to show you more. @florencepugh@dontworrydarling.”
Fans called out Pugh’s radio silence.
“The way Florence Pugh has yet to post about don’t worry darling even though there are two trailers out for it and yet she’ll post about every single other project that she’s doing right now like what did Olivia Wilde do ????” tweeted one.
“i think it’s so funny how florence pugh had said NOTHING about don’t worry darling and olivia wilde keeps trying to hype her up,” tweeted another.
The “Little Women” star did not attend Monday’s press conference and photo call in Venice, but arrived in Italy in time for the premiere.
“If Florence is avoiding the press, you have to wonder,” one Hollywood crisis-manager publicist told Page Six Tuesday. “She was in Marvel properties where she did PR out the ass. It seems weird for her to avoid press on this — unless she wants to avoid talking about … Olivia.”
During a four-minute standing ovation for the film, Variety reported, a “teary-eyed” Pugh turned away from Wilde to face co-star Nick Kroll.
Wilde, 38, told reporters she was “grateful” to see Pugh in Venice after the younger actress flew in from Budapest, where she’s currently filming “Dune 2.”
“Florence is a force, we are so grateful that she is able to make it tonight despite being in production,” Wilde said. “As for all the endless tabloid gossip and noise out there, the internet feeds itself. I don’t feel I need to contribute to it.”
But the budding filmmaker, who also acts in the movie, declined to address her fallout with eccentric actor Shia LaBeouf, while Venice festival organizers blocked a journalist’s question about him over the weekend.
LaBeouf — who is on a bit of a redemption tour after being accused of abuse by his ex-girlfriend FKA Twigs — was initially set to appear in the film as the sketchy husband of Pugh’s suburban housewife, but Wilde told Variety in August she had to cut the “Honeyboy” actor to ensure safety on set.
“I say this as some who is such an admirer of his work,” Wilde told the outlet. “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.”
But LaBeouf, 36, promptly gave Variety texts between himself and Wilde, claiming that he was the one who walked away. He included an open email to the director, saying “You and I both know the reasons for my exit. I quit your film because your actors and I couldn’t find time to rehearse.”
Furthermore, LaBeouf sent Variety a video from Wilde begging him to stay on the film.
“I wanted to reach out because I feel like I’m not ready to give up on this yet,” Wilde says in the 2020 clip. “I, too, am heartbroken, and I want to figure this out.”
In it, Wilde also hints at some sort of beef between LaBeouf and Pugh: “If she really commits, if she really put her mind and heart into it at this point, and if you guys can make peace — and I respect your point of view, I respect hers — but if you guys can do it, what do you think?
“I think this might be a bit of a wake-up call for Miss Flo,” she adds.
On Monday, ahead of the film’s Venice premiere, Pugh may have stayed quiet on social media — but her stylist slyly winked at the whole mess. Rebecca Corbin-Murray, who dresses the actress, posted a photo of Pugh wearing Valentino Haute Couture ahead of the screening. The caption? Simply “Miss Flo.“
It’s hard to say if the swirling drama, which hits theaters Sept. 23, will make more people want to see the movie, but so far, early reviews of “Don’t Worry, Darling” are decidedly mixed, with just a 41% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Sources, meanwhile, say that the real loser could be Wilde, who had been riding a high after the success of her directorial debut “Booksmart” in 2019.
“Having your lead actress not doing press, your former lead-actor exposing you for not telling the truth about him, and [you] entering into a relationship with your replacement lead actor,” one Hollywood insider told Page Six Tuesday. “It all adds up to a trifecta for having credibility problems going forward.”
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