Updated

Updated · Variety · Jun 20

Olivia Wilde Says Pamela Anderson Helped Her Endure 2022 Don't Worry Darling Backlash

Updated

Updated · Variety · Jun 20

Olivia Wilde Says Pamela Anderson Helped Her Endure 2022 Don't Worry Darling Backlash

Q: Was Pamela Anderson's advice the secret to Olivia Wilde's recent comeback?

No. Pamela Anderson’s advice appears to have been meaningful support for Olivia Wilde during a bruising period, but there is no evidence it was the decisive “secret” behind Wilde’s recent comeback. Wilde said Anderson helped her emotionally during the 2022 “Don’t Worry Darling” fallout by urging her to “stay soft” and not let public criticism harden her. That guidance seems to have helped Wilde cope with intense scrutiny, rumors, and the frustration of feeling unable to publicly defend herself or the film. But the reporting points to a broader recovery. Wilde has described doing extensive therapy, taking time to rebuild after what she called rock bottom, and rethinking how she handled public pressure. She has also more directly addressed past controversies in recent interviews, which has helped reshape the narrative around her. Most importantly, her professional resurgence is being tied to new work, not to Anderson’s advice alone. Coverage of Wilde’s comeback centers on the strong reception for her newer projects, especially “The Invite,” which premiered at Sundance to praise and secured distribution, as well as renewed attention to her filmmaking after “Don’t Worry Darling” was overshadowed by off-screen drama. So Anderson’s advice was likely an important part of Wilde’s resilience and healing, but the available evidence suggests her comeback is mainly the result of personal recovery, strategic re-engagement, and well-received new films.

Q: After her new film's success, will Wilde finally address the 'Don't Worry Darling' rumors?

Yes — but only partly. With the strong reception for her new film *The Invite*, Olivia Wilde has used the renewed attention to revisit the *Don’t Worry Darling* fallout. In recent interviews, especially on the *Call Her Daddy* podcast, she said she regretted staying silent during the 2022 frenzy, described much of the coverage as “complete fiction,” and said she felt unable to defend herself or the film while trying to protect the work of the cast and crew. She has now spoken more openly about the broader experience: the “insanely disproportionate” backlash, the pressure of tabloid narratives, and the trauma of being served custody papers onstage at CinemaCon. She also reflected on her relationship with Harry Styles in warmer, more personal terms and said Pamela Anderson’s advice to “stay soft” helped her process the period. But Wilde still has not done a full point-by-point reckoning with every rumor. Reports indicate she did not directly address some of the most persistent *Don’t Worry Darling* controversies, including the alleged Florence Pugh feud and the Shia LaBeouf dispute in detailed terms. So the answer is that Wilde is addressing the saga now, but selectively. She is reframing the period, explaining why she stayed quiet, and pushing back on the overall narrative — without fully litigating every specific rumor that surrounded the film.

2 articles · Updated · Variety · Jun 20

Olivia Wilde said on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast that Pamela Anderson helped her handle the intense scrutiny around 2022’s “Don’t Worry Darling.”
After watching Netflix documentary “Pamela, A Love Story,” Wilde reached out to Anderson, who told her, “The most rebellious thing you can do is stay soft. Don’t let it harden you.”
Wilde said staying silent during the rumor-filled rollout was especially hard because she wanted to rebut false claims and keep attention on the film and the hundreds of cast and crew members who made it through Covid.
She described the backlash as “insanely disproportionate,” framing Anderson’s advice as a way to resist being defined by public scandal.