Olivia Wilde Reflects on Romance with Harry Styles

Olivia Wilde recently shared her thoughts on the public reaction to her relationship with Harry Styles, noting that fans seemed more or less indifferent to their 10-year age gap.

The couple started dating after they met on the set of the film Don’t Worry Darling in 2020. Their romance lasted nearly two years before they decided to part ways in November 2022.

Wilde acknowledged the intense scrutiny she faced during her relationship with Styles, attributing some of the backlash to the passionate fan base that Styles has. She implied that the criticism wasn’t just a personal issue for her, but rather a reflection of the unique hurdles involved in dating someone as famous as him.

“I think it has a lot to do with the kind of parasocial relationships people form with him. It’s a heavy load to bear, and honestly, I don’t envy it, but he handles it well,” Wilde commented during an interview. “It’s an impossible responsibility that stars have to bear. I don’t know; it’s just wild.”

Despite the negativity, Wilde described her relationship with Styles as “very nice,” “beautiful,” and “pretty homely.” She felt they existed in their own bubble, unaffected by outside judgments. “It’s kind of miraculous that we made it work,” she expressed.

She observed that people seemed upset by their happiness, sharing an instance where she and Styles went to a concert, and people questioned if he could even dance or laugh. “It shocked folks,” she remarked.

The backlash intensified during the press tour for Don’t Worry Darling, especially following her split from Jason Sudeikis. The film’s promotion came with rumors of tension on set, which complicated her newfound relationship.

Wilde characterized the chaotic press tour as surreal, recalling one particularly bizarre moment, she said, “It felt like I was eating a banana.” Everything was moving so quickly, and she’d never felt so disconnected from the narratives surrounding her. “I kept thinking, ‘What? Who are they referring to?'” she recalled, realizing that fiction was often treated as fact.

Wilde admitted it was frustrating to see so much speculation, even though she hesitated to correct the record. “I wanted to set the story straight, but I knew that would just feed the frenzy,” she noted. “I thought, ‘It’s not about me.’ This movie involved many hard-working individuals who overcame challenges to create something valuable.” She found it discouraging that her personal experiences often drew disproportionate scrutiny.

In the midst of the public chaos, Wilde felt her private life was quite the opposite—filled with genuine happiness and love. “It was like a tornado outside while I was inside enjoying quieter, wholesome moments,” she said contemplatively. “It’s surprising how different those two worlds can be.”