Olivia Wilde has responded to the fierce backlash she received after her red carpet appearance last week, which sparked cruel comparisons to the Lord of the Rings character Gollum. The 42-year-old actress and director, known for Don't Worry Darling, was attending the San Francisco Film Festival for her new film The Invite when a video of her interview went viral, drawing harsh criticism from online trolls.
Addressing the Criticism
Taking to Instagram, Wilde appeared in a hoodie and baseball cap, wrapped in a blanket, to address the situation. She admitted that even her own brother had mocked her, saying: "Leave it to your little brother to give you the maximum amount of s**t. I don't know why I was so close to the camera; I didn't have to be."
Her younger sibling, Charlie Cockburn, could be heard giggling in the background as he asked: "Olivia Wilde, do you care to address recent rumours that you're a resurrected corpse?" Laughing, Wilde replied: "Do you have any more questions? I'm not dead."
Fan Support and Speculation
Despite the cruel comments, many fans jumped to Wilde's defence. Some blamed unflattering lighting and camera lens distortion at the festival, while others dismissed the speculation about her weight or alleged use of Ozempic. One supporter wrote on X: "It's unflattering lighting and a bad camera lens. She otherwise looks beautiful and is aging gracefully." Another added: "People need to toss off sometimes and leave people be."
A third commenter noted: "Why is this even a post? She's beautiful. We're living in such a world where everyone has to be perfect. You can't be too fat; you can't be too thin... Like, who cares?"
Hollywood Pressures
Wilde, who has transitioned from acting to directing with her upcoming film The Invite, has previously spoken about the pressures of Hollywood. In a 2022 interview with Elle magazine, while dating Harry Styles, she said: "It's as though the general public feels that if you are making something that you're selling to the public, you somehow have accepted that your life will be torn to shreds by a pack of wolves." She added firmly: "No, that's actually not part of the job description. Never was."
The actress, who has two children, continues to focus on her career despite the online scrutiny, with her new film set to hit cinemas soon.
