Olivia Wilde revealed an unlikely source of support during one of the most challenging times of his career. The 42-year-old filmmaker recently appeared on a podcast and talked about how a surprising celebrity connection helped him cope with the fallout from the ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ press tour, which was marked by persistent rumors and imagined drama.The movie itself hits theaters in September 2022, followed a few months later by: Pamela AndersonThe documentary ‘Pamela, A Love Story’ in January 2023. According to Wilde’s account, she contacted Anderson after watching the documentary, and their exchange proved unexpectedly meaningful during a difficult time.
Olivia Wilde’s unexpected connection to Pamela Anderson
Speaking on the podcast, Wilde explained how watching the documentary prompted her to contact Anderson. “I actually learned it from – it sounds really crazy. But after I saw the documentary, I approached him, and I said, ‘Yo, respect. Just want to say big fan,'” she shared on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast.
According to Wilde, Anderson encouraged him not to let criticism harden him, advice that proved invaluable during one of the most challenging chapters of his career. Image credit (Olivia Wilde Instagram)
What started as a fan message turned into something more substantive. Anderson, drawing on his own extensive experience navigating public scrutiny, offered Wilde a perspective that proved invaluable during the filmmaker’s own time in the spotlight. “Pamela said she knew some of the things I was going through and told me that in the midst of public scrutiny, ‘The most rebellious thing you can do is stay soft. Don’t let it harden you,'” Wilde recalled.
The challenge of remaining silent during public criticism
Wilde talked about how difficult it was for him to cool down with the constant attention that the film production and his life brought. The director admits that the urge to defend himself publicly against misinformation is there, but in the end he recognizes the importance of restraint.“It was really hard, because I wanted to be like, ‘Can I just talk to people? Can I go and say, ‘That’s not true! That’s not true!'” Wilde shared during the interview. “And it’s like, ‘No, that’s not going to help.’ And that is very difficult. “
Protecting the collective effort behind the film
Wilde also contextualizes his decision to remain silent as motivated by something greater than his personal reputation. He explained that he felt a responsibility to the wider team that had invested so much effort to bring the project to fruition.“I was like, ‘It’s not about me. It’s about this movie that everybody worked so hard to make,'” he explained. “And I feel like I’m working for hundreds of people who are working through Covid to do something very difficult.”
The actress-director explained that she chose to remain silent during the backlash because she wanted to keep the focus on the hundreds of people who worked on the film. Image credit (Olivia Wilde Instagram)
This perspective helped Wilde navigate intense media scrutiny, although he felt that the criticism leveled against him was disproportionate to the actual circumstances. “I felt frustrated that I couldn’t defend myself, but it was also like, ‘Okay, it’s not about you. Just release the movie.’ And the beating I took was disproportionate,” said the ‘House’ alum.
Anderson’s documented approach to public speaking
Anderson’s advice to Wilde was drawn directly from his own well-documented experience in managing public opinion. The documentary ‘Pamela, A Love Story’, which will air on the OTT platform in 2023, focuses on Anderson recounting his version of events from his own life and career. The project gave Anderson a chance to address longstanding public narratives about his personal and professional choices on his own terms.