Olivia Wilde is opening up about the intense backlash she faced during her relationship with Harry Styles, revealing that the public reaction went far beyond celebrity gossip.
The actress and filmmaker says people were upset by their romance, particularly because of their 10-year age gap, and even criticized her for attending Styles’ concerts. Wilde now says the scrutiny surrounding their relationship became one of the most difficult parts of that period in her life.
Olivia Wilde Says People Were Angry About Her Romance With Harry Styles
During an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Wilde reflected on the criticism she received while dating Styles, whom she met during the making of ‘Don’t Worry Darling‘. According to Wilde, public opinion had already turned against her before the film was even released because of the relationship.
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As Wilde sees it, many people were “f—ing pissed” that she was dating Styles. She suggested that part of the backlash came from the strong connection fans have with the singer and actor.
“I think that it also had a lot to do with the kind of parasocial relationship people had with, have with him, which is a burden that is very weighty and not something I envy and he carries it with grace,” Wilde said. “I think that is an enormous responsibility that all those stars have to carry that’s f—ing impossible.”
Wilde also pointed to the couple’s 10-year age difference as another reason people reacted so strongly. “Really did upset people,” she said of the age gap. “It was crazy. I don’t know how much I understand it yet. That’s one of the factors that I never really felt like, I fully, I don’t know.”
Wilde Says Even Dancing At Harry Styles Concerts Drew Criticism
Looking back on the relationship, Wilde described it as far different from the way it was portrayed in public. She called it the “loveliest relationship” and said it was “so sweet and so beautiful and really, actually, very domestic and kind and lovely.”
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Despite the criticism online, Wilde said she and Styles managed to create a private world where outside opinions had little influence. She believes that the protective bubble helped them enjoy their time together despite the constant attention.
“I think that we existed in this, like, little bubble, and the judgment never really got into that bubble. It was a miracle and testament to us making that happen,” Wilde added.
The actress also recalled the surprising level of hostility she faced for simply showing support at Styles’ concerts. According to Wilde, some people reacted negatively to seeing her happy and enjoying herself in public.
“I think that people were mad. It’s almost like the happiness made them mad. I would go to shows and dance, and people were like, ‘You slut! How dare you dance and smile?’ It really did upset people, though,” Wilde said. The comments came as Wilde reflected on the broader public attention surrounding the release of ‘Don’t Worry Darling‘.
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