Olivia Wilde spills truth on ‘Spit-Gate,’ feuds amid ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ release

nypost.com:

Shia LaBeouf’s tumultuous departure from the film, “Spit-Gate” and her apparent feud with Florence Pugh.Wilde, 38, — who directed the film — appeared on “The Late Night Show” with host Stephen Colbert on Wednesday, ahead of the psychological thriller’s release on Friday, maintaining the drama is strictly on-screen only.

Wilde said she acted in the best interest of lead actress Florence Pugh to keep her “safe” from Shia LaBeouf — who was originally cast as the lead before being recast by Harry Styles — when pressed by Colbert about the situation.“Once it became clear that it was not a tenable working relationship, I was given an ultimatum,” she told the host.“I chose my actress, which I’m very happy I did,” she continued. “At the time, was I bummed that we weren’t able to make it work?

Sure. Did information about him come to light later that made me confident we made the right decision? Absolutely.”Wilde said he gave her an ultimatum between her and Pugh, saying she chose Pugh and she thinks her and LaBeouf see his departure from the film differently.“When he gave me the ultimatum of him or Florence, I chose Florence, and that was him feeling he was stepping away, and me feeling like we were moving on without him,” she explained.“People will look for drama anywhere they can.

Harry did not spit on Chris, in fact.” — @oliviawilde on #spitgate More tonight on @CBS at 11:35/10:35c. #LSSC pic.twitter.com/RQS54WJH0GColbert then addressed ‘Spit-Gate’ — the speculation that Harry Styles spat on Chris Pine at the Venice Film Festival — which she shrugged off as simply untrue.“No, he did not.