Olivia Wilde has revealed that Pamela Anderson offered her valuable advice on staying “soft” amid public scrutiny in the wake of the Don’t Worry Darling controversy. Image credit (Olivia Wilde and Pamela Anderson Instagram)
Olivia Wilde has revealed an unexpected source of support during one of the most difficult periods of her career. The 42-year-old director recently appeared on a podcast and discussed how her sudden celebrity connection helped her cope with the fallout from the Don’t Worry Darling press tour, which was marked by persistent rumors and perceived drama.The film itself debuted in theaters in September 2022, and was followed months later by Pamela Anderson’s documentary “Pamela, A Love Story” in January 2023. According to Wilde’s account, she reached out to Anderson after watching the documentary, and their exchange proved unexpectedly helpful during a difficult time.
Olivia Wilde’s unexpected relationship with Pamela Anderson
Speaking on the podcast, Wilde explained how watching the documentary prompted her to contact Anderson. “I already learned this – this sounds so crazy.
But after I watched the documentary, I reached out to her and said, “With all due respect.” “I just want to say a big fan,” she shared on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast.
According to Wilde, Anderson encouraged her not to let criticism empower her, advice that proved crucial during one of the most challenging chapters of her career. Image credit (Olivia Wilde Instagram)
What started as a message to fans has evolved into something more substantive. Anderson, drawing on her extensive experience dealing with public scrutiny, provided Wilde with a perspective that proved invaluable during the director’s private moment in the spotlight. “Pamela said she was aware of some of the things I was going through, and she told me that in the midst of public scrutiny, the most rebellious thing you can do is stay quiet.”
“Don’t let it toughen you up,” Wilde recalled.
The challenge of remaining silent during public criticism
Wilde spoke about how difficult it was for her to stay calm while constantly worrying about the film’s production and her life. The director acknowledged the desire to defend herself publicly against misinformation, but ultimately acknowledged the importance of self-control.“It was very difficult,” Wilde said during the interview, “because I wanted to say, ‘Can I just talk to people? Can I just go and say, ‘This is not true! This is not true!'”
“And it was like: ‘No, this isn’t going to help.’ That was really difficult.”
Protect the team effort behind the film
Wilde also contextualized her decision to remain largely silent as motivated by something bigger than her personal reputation. She explained that she felt a sense of responsibility towards the wider team that had invested so much effort in making the project happen.She explained: “I thought to myself: It’s not about me. It’s about this movie that everyone is working so hard to make.”
“And I felt like I was acting on behalf of hundreds of people who have worked through COVID to make it really difficult.”
The actress and director explained that she chose to remain silent during the backlash because she wanted the focus to remain on the hundreds of people who worked on the film. Image credit (Olivia Wilde Instagram)
This perspective helped Wilde navigate intense media scrutiny, even when she felt that the criticism directed at her was disproportionate to the actual circumstances. “I felt frustrated because I couldn’t stand up for myself, but I also felt like, ‘It’s not about you. Just get the movie out.'”
The “House” alum said the beating she suffered was insanely disproportionate.
Anderson’s documented approach to public narrative
Anderson’s advice to Wilde comes directly from her well-documented experience managing public perception. The documentary “Pamela, a Love Story,” which premiered on the OTT platform in 2023, focused on Anderson telling her version of events from her life and career. The project gave Anderson an opportunity to address long-standing public narratives about her personal and professional choices on her own terms.
