Olivia Wilde Says Her Harry Styles Romance Upset People, But Felt “Sweet” and Private

Olivia Wilde, 42, has spoken publicly for the first time about her relationship with Harry Styles, 32, saying the reaction around it was intense and often hostile. In an appearance Wednesday on the podcast Call Her Daddy, the actress and director recalled that the romance, which began in 2020 and lasted about two years, “really pissed people off” and left many fans furious.

Wilde said their relationship was “great,” describing it as “sweet” and “beautiful,” and said they managed to live in a private bubble despite the public uproar. “There was all this public craziness, but my private life was very far from it,” she said, adding that the relationship brought her “real joy, love and happiness.” She compared the outside attention to a tornado, saying that inside it felt calm and warm.

She also praised Styles for handling the backlash with grace, saying the pressure was tied to fans’ one-sided attachment to him and that it was a heavy burden she did not envy. Wilde said she went to his shows and danced, only to be criticized by some people for smiling in public. The pair met on the set of Don’t Worry Darling, the film Wilde directed and in which Styles and Florence Pugh starred.

According to the article, Pugh was reportedly aware of the alleged romance on set and was so opposed that she refused to promote the film or stand close to Wilde at premieres. Wilde and Styles also avoided being photographed together, apparently to avoid giving the press more material. Wilde’s breakup with Jason Sudeikis, the father of her two children, was messy, including a moment when he served her custody papers on stage in front of the audience. Reflecting on that split, Wilde said people often stay in unhappy relationships out of shame or guilt, but that separating can create a healthier dynamic for children, and she said she now co-parents well with Sudeikis as a separated couple.