Pop Culture

Olivia Wilde Says Her Relationship Age Gap With Harry Styles 'Upset People'

She's 10 years his senior.

(L) Olivia Wilde is seen on June 15, 2026 in New York City. (R) Harry Styles at The BRIT Awards 2026 held at Co-op Live on February 28, 2026 in Manchester, England.
Images via Raymond Hall/GC Images and Zak Hussein/Billboard via Getty Images

Olivia Wilde believes her short-lived relationship with Harry Styles was discomforting to the public because she’s older than the British pop vocalist.

The Invite star appeared on the Wednesday (June 17) episode of podcast Call Her Daddy and implied her relationship with the artist “upset people.”

Wilde cast Styles in her 2022 psychological drama Don't Worry Darling, and the exes dated from 2020 to 2022. The actress, now 42, is 10 years older than Styles.

“I understand it had very little to do with me,” Wilde said around the one-hour, 33-minute mark of the video below. “It is something that we have we've done this to women for a long time. Why is it? I don't know. People were fucking pissed.”

The actress and filmmaker also called out the “parasocial relationship” that some of Styles’ fans have with him, which she called a “burden.”

“He carries it with grace. I think that is an enormous responsibility that all those stars have to carry, and it's fucking impossible,” Wilde continued.

The entertainer added that she and the three-time Grammy winner had the “loveliest relationship” and that they were able to exist in a “little bubble.”

“The judgment never really like got into that bubble, which was a miracle, a real testament to like to us like making that happen,” Wilde explained. “I think that people were mad. … It's almost like the happiness made them mad.”

Shortly before Wilde and Styles began dating, the actress had split from Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis after nine years. The exes, who were previously engaged, share two children: Otis Alexander, 12, and Daisy Josephine, 9.

Wilde also noted that Sudeikis dated someone “even younger” than Styles.

In April, the former One Direction member became engaged to Zoë Kravitz after eight months of dating, although both have been tight-lipped about their relationship.

Related Stories

Olivia Wilde
style

Olivia Wilde Turns Heads at Met Gala by Wearing Cage Attached to Her Rear End

The actress and director arrived at the event in a Thom Browne gown, complete with a structural cage.

tara mahadevan45 days ago
Harry Styles and Zoë Kravitz
pop-culture

Harry Styles and Zoë Kravitz Are Reportedly Engaged

The pair have been dating for about 8 months.

Andrew White53 days ago
Harry Styles.
music

Harry Styles Has Reportedly Been Walking Over 5 Miles to 'SNL' Rehearsals

The pop star is set to be host and musical guest of the famous sketch show this weekend, in support of his new album, 'Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.'

Trey Alston97 days ago

Stay ahead on Exclusives

Download the Complex App