Olivia Wildeis sticking with her story that she firedShia LaBeouffromDon’t Worry Darling.
In a new interview withVanity Fairpublished Thursday, Wilde, 38, re-asserted that she did call LaBeouf, 36, and fire him from the upcoming film afterFlorence Pughexpressed she was uncomfortable with the actor’s behavior.
“My responsibility was towards [Florence],” Wilde toldVanity Fair. “I’m like a mother wolf. Making the call was tricky, but in a way he understood. I don’t think it would’ve been a process he enjoyed. He comes at his work with an intensity that can be combative.”
“It wasn’t the ethos that I demand in my productions,” the actress and filmmaker added. “I want him to get well and to evolve because I think it’s a great loss to the film industry when someone that talented is unable to work.”
LaBeoufpublicly disputed Wilde’s claimand argued that he quit the film due to a lack of rehearsal time with Pugh, 26, and other actors in August. Wildedeclined to comment further on the matteratDon’t Worry Darling’s Venice International Film Festival premiere.
Olivia Wilde forVanity Fair.Emma Summerton/Vanity Fair
In her interview withVanity Fair, Wilde said LaBeouf’s exit was “much more nuanced than can be explained in private texts released out of context.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“All I’ll say is he was replaced, and there was no going forward with him. I wish him the best in his recovery,” she added.
Representatives for LaBeouf did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Olivia Wilde; Shia LaBeouf.Taylor Hill/WireImage; Jon Kopaloff/Getty
WhenDeadlinereported in September 2020 thatStyles, 28, had replaced LaBeoufon the film, it cited a scheduling issue.
In Wednesday’s feature story,Vanity Fairreported that both Pugh and LaBeouf had been unhappy about rehearsals, citing “a source with knowledge of the situation.”
LaBeouf was reportedly unhappy with the “limited amount of rehearsal time” on Pugh’s schedule, and Pugh expressed discomfort with LaBeouf’s “intensity,” according toVanity Fair.
Wilde also further denied rumors that a rift between herself and Pugh grew during production onDon’t Worry Darlingafter Wilde and Styles met.
While the pairdid not step out together publicly until January 2021, the rumors go that Wilde and Styles' budding relationship resulted in Pugh feeling “neglected or otherwise alienated, and that Pugh and/or the cinematographer even had to direct some scenes,” asVanity Fairputs it.
“It is very rare that people assume the best from women in power,” Wilde told the magazine. “I think they don’t often give us the benefit of the doubt. Florence did the job I hired her to do, and she did it exquisitely. She blew me away. Every day I was in awe of her, and we worked very well together.”
Don’t Worry Darlingis in theaters Sept. 23.
source: people.com
