Shia LaBeouf is denying claims made by Olivia Wilde that he was fired from her movie Don’t Worry Darling due to his ‘combative energy’ and has instead insisted that he quit the project.
Earlier this week, Wilde, 38, gave an interview to Variety where she said LaBeouf’s process was ‘not conducive to the ethos that I demand in my productions’ after the role was ultimately recast with her now-boyfriend Harry Styles.
Styles, 28, plays the character Jack alongside main star Florence Pugh, who is said to have had some ‘tension’ with LaBeouf.
However, LaBeouf, 36, has now supplied alleged evidence that refutes Wilde’s claims, including an email he sent to the director and a video that she allegedly sent to him, that proves he walked away from the film.
LaBeouf claims he ‘quit the film due to lack of rehearsal time’ on August 17th in 2020, and forwarded Variety two emails that he claims he recently sent to Wilde.
‘I quit your film’: Shia LaBeouf DENIES he was fired from Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling and provides evidence of the director allegedly BEGGING him to stay amid tensions with co-star Florence Pugh
In his messages to Wilde, LaBeouf states: ‘You and I both know the reasons for my exit. I quit your film because your actors and I couldn’t find time to rehearse.’
In the email, he references his troubled relationship with singer FKA Twigs, who has accused the actor of ‘sexual battery’ in a lawsuit, which he has denied, and also spoke of his daughter Isabel who he shares with partner Mia Goth.
Some studio sources have claimed to the publication that LaBeouf had been fired, while another said it was down to a ‘collective recognition that LaBeouf’s style of acting wasn’t a good fit for Wilde’s approach as a director.’
Variety reports that LaBeouf sent the publication screenshots of his conversations with Wilde, which claim they met in person to discuss his exit from the project.
Wilde allegedly texted the actor: ‘Thanks for letting me in on your thought process. I know that isn’t fun. Doesn’t feel good to say no to someone, and I respect your honesty.’
‘I’m honored you were willing to go there with me, for me to tell a story with you. I’m gutted because it could have been something special. I want to make clear how much it means to me that you trust me. That’s a gift I’ll take with me.’
LaBeouf then claims to the trade outlet that he ‘officially’ quit the film the following day after their conversation in August 2020.
As well as texts, LaBeouf reportedly provided Variety with a video that Wilde allegedly sent him on August 19th 2020, two days after he is said to have quit.
Variety claims that in the video Wilde is heard saying she is ‘not ready to give up on this yet,’ as he appears to beg the actor to reconsider.
Wilde is then said to allude to tension between LaBeouf and lead star Florence Pugh, who plays Alice, the wife of Jack.
Coming soon: Don’t Worry Darling, which comes out next month, stars Florence Pugh and Harry Styles as a 1950s married couple that becomes ensnared with a cult in their idyllic town
‘I feel like I’m not ready to give up on this yet, and I too am heartbroken and I want to figure this out,’ Wilde allegedly says in the video.
‘You know, I think this might be a bit of a wake-up call for Miss Flo [Florence Pugh], and I want to know if you’re open to giving this a shot with me, with us.’
Wilde goes on: ‘If she really commits, if she really puts her mind and heart into it at this point and if you guys can make peace – and I respect your point of view, I respect hers – but if you guys can do it, what do you think? Is there hope? Will you let me know?’
LaBeouf supplies another message where Wilde allegedly wrote to him: ‘You don’t have to be in my movies but don’t ever doubt me. We pinky promised. That means something in my house.’
DailyMail.com has reached out reps for both LaBeouf and Wilde who have so far been unavailable for comment.
In an email to Wilde, LaBeouf acknowledges his relationship with British singer FKA Twigs, where he writes: ‘My failings with Twigs are fundamental and real, but they are not the narrative that has been presented.’
Twigs – real name Tahliah Debrett Barnett – accused LaBeouf in a lawsuit of knowingly giving her a sexually transmitted disease and also accused him of ‘relentless abuse,’ including sexual battery, assault and infliction of emotional distress. He has denied the claims.
Bombshell interview: LaBeouf is responding to Wilde’s Variety interview where she also slammed her ex-fiancé Jason Sudeikis for infamously serving her custody papers
He also talks about his daughter Isabel, who he shares with current partner Mia Goth.
‘I have a little girl, Isabel; she is five months old and just beginning to develop the last half of her laugh; it’s AMAZING,’ LaBeouf writes.
He goes on: ‘Mia, my wife & I have found each other again & are journeying toward a healthy family with love and mutual respect.’
LaBeouf is responding to Wilde’s Variety interview where she also slammed her ex-fiancé Jason Sudeikis for infamously serving her custody papers in front of a large audience while onstage at the 2022 CinemaCon back in April.
The actress called the ugly incident ‘an attack on her workplace’, but said she was not surprised at it happening because there was a ‘reason’ she left that relationship.
Olivia and Jason, who first met in 2011, have two children together – eight-year-old Otis, and five-year-old Daisy.
Four months ago, Olivia was on stage at the ComicCon event in Las Vegas to promote her upcoming film Don’t Worry Darling when she was ambushed with a petition from Jason – who wanted their children to live with him in New York City.
The actress slammed her ex-fiancé for the way it happened as she told Variety in her cover story: ‘It was my workplace. In any other workplace, it would be seen as an attack.
Olivia and Jason were in a relationship for nearly a decade from 2011 to 2020 and she blasted her ex for serving her in such a public way at Cinemacon.
Olivia and Jason (seen with their kids in February 2020) were in a relationship for nearly a decade from 2011 to 2020 and she believes their children are the victims in all of this as she said: ‘The only people who suffered were my kids, because they’ll have to see that, and they shouldn’t ever have to know that happened
Sweet: Wilde is now dating Harry Styles, 28, after the pair formed a close bond while shooting the psychological thriller in late 2020 (pictured together on set)
The House star did not hold back as she explained: ‘To try to sabotage that was really vicious. But I had a job to do; I’m not easily distracted.
‘But, you know, sadly, it was not something that was entirely surprising to me. I mean, there’s a reason I left that relationship.’
A source close to the former couple told DailyMail.com exclusively back in April that Jason had ‘no idea’ the papers were being served to her in that way.
‘Jason had no idea that this was happening,’ the insider shared. ‘Nobody knew until the photos suddenly appeared. He is appalled about the whole thing and never would have wanted Olivia to be put in this kind of situation.
‘His sole priority is their children and making sure that they are safe and happy.’
She is currently dating One Direction boybander and star of her latest film Harry Styles, 28, as the two have been romantically linked since January 2021.