‘The Invite’ Star Olivia Wilde Responds to Critics Calling Her Photo Disturbing
Olivia Wilde is addressing the intense online reaction to a red carpet photo that sparked numerous comments about her appearance. The actress and director recently shared her thoughts on the viral moment, describing it as surprising, funny, and somewhat strange.
During her appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast on June 17, Wilde discussed the photo from the San Francisco International Film Festival that quickly gained traction on social media. Some users claimed she appeared unhealthy, while others made extreme remarks about her looks.
Wilde expressed her disbelief at how the image became such a hot topic.
“We did the red carpet, and then I saw that picture and I was like, ‘Alright, but it probably won’t go very far. No one’s going to see this,’” Wilde recounted on the podcast. “And then suddenly it was f–king everywhere. And I was like, ‘Oh, my God.’”
The director of “Don’t Worry Darling” recalled seeing serious claims about her health circulating online. Some users speculated she might be ill, while others attempted to diagnose her with various medical conditions.
Wilde mentioned that people were “diagnosing” her with Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder that can lead to symptoms like weight loss. However, she clarified that there was nothing wrong and that the reaction stemmed from one unflattering photo.
For Wilde, the situation was mostly humorous, as she believes many people can relate to experiencing a bad photo. She noted that while anyone can have an unflattering moment, celebrities often have those moments shared with millions.
“All of us have had this situation where you take a bad picture,” Wilde said. “Imagine if then it was in, like, a hundred million people’s phones and you’re like, ‘Oh no! That is not how I actually look.’ I laughed so hard.”
Wilde also shared that her close friends helped lighten the mood by joking about the situation with her. She mentioned that her closest friends are usually the first to make light of such moments.
“The thing that is great about having really good friends is that they are the ones to laugh the hardest,” she noted. “I guarantee any joke that’s been made about me, my friends made it first, in a much funnier way.”
While Wilde found humor in the incident, she also highlighted a broader issue regarding how women are discussed online. She pointed out that the reaction illustrated how quickly people judge women’s appearances and turn a single image into a larger conversation.
At the same time, Wilde acknowledged understanding why some people reacted as they did after seeing the photo.
“On that one, I’ll hand it to them, that picture was so crazy,” she admitted. “I, too, would’ve been like, ‘Is she OK?’”
Despite the online scrutiny, Wilde assured everyone that she is doing well and that the viral moment was merely the result of an unfortunate camera angle. The actress continues to pursue new projects as both a performer and filmmaker.
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