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Shia LaBeouf Was Not Fired from ‘Don’t Worry Darling’: He ‘Quit’

Maybe someone needs to be a little worried, darling: Shia LaBeouf has dismissed rumors that he was fired from director Olivia Wilde’s new film Don’t Worry Darling for “combative energy.”

In an email LaBeouf sent to Wilde, which Variety posted two days after the cover story with Wilde was released in which he claimed to have fired LeBeouf from the film, the actor claims to have voluntarily exited the production. 

A source close to the project confirmed that LaBeouf was not formally fired from the film.

“I am a little confused about the narrative that I was fired,” LaBeouf allegedly said in the letter, prior to referring to the use of his name “attractive clickbait” for Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling press tour. 

“You and I both know the reasons for my exit. I quit your film because your actors & I couldn’t find time to rehearse.” 

LaBeouf even asked Wilde to clarify her statements.

“Firing me never took place, Olivia. And while I fully understand the attractiveness of pushing that story because of the current social landscape, the social currency that it brings. It is not the truth,” he added. 

“So, I am humbly asking, as a person with an eye toward making things right, that you correct the narrative as best you can. I hope none of this negatively affects [sic] you and that your film is successful in all the ways you want it to be.” 

Per Variety, it had seen a clip and text conversation between LaBeouf and Wilde, but the information is not yet verified.

Talking about LaBeouf’s departure in her cover story with Variety, Wilde stated that she was an “admirer of his work” but that “his process was not conducive to the ethos” that she wanted on set with the cast, which includes Florence Pugh and Harry Styles – who ultimately played LaBeouf’s supposed character. 

“He has a process that, in some ways, seems to require a combative energy, and I don’t personally believe that is conducive to the best performances,” the actress-director said in the interview with the outlet. 

“I believe that creating a safe, trusting environment is the best way to get people to do their best work. Ultimately, my responsibility is to the production and to the cast to protect them. That was my job.” 

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LaBeouf Sued

Following his exit from the movie, LaBeouf’s former girlfriend, FKA Twigs, with whom he starred in Honey Boy, filed a lawsuit for physical, emotional, and mental abuse. 

The actor denied the allegations, with court filings stressing that he “denies generally and specifically each and every allegation,” according to Reuters. 

Later, he went on to seek treatment at an inpatient facility. 

“A lot came to light after this happened that really troubled me, in terms of his behavior,” Wilde said in the interview. 

“I find myself just really wishing him health and evolution because I believe in restorative justice. But for our film, what we really needed was an energy that was incredibly supportive. Particularly with a movie like this, I knew that I was going to be asking Florence [Pugh] to be in very vulnerable situations, and my priority was making her feel safe and making her feel supported.” 

Don’t Worry Darling chronicles the tale of a 1950s housewife, Alice (Pugh), who lives with her husband, Jack (Styles), in an experimental community where another housewife goes missing. 

The film, which features Chris Pine, Kiki Layne, Gemma Chan, and Nick Kroll, drops September 23.

Read also: Game of Thrones Prequel Performs Well on its Premiere

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