Olivia Wilde has addressed the viral moment that left fans both concerned and, in some corners of the internet, unkind, after a red carpet clip sparked comparisons to Gollum.
The 42-year-old filmmaker found herself at the centre of online debate following her appearance at the San Francisco International Film Festival, where a close-up video, viewed more than 10 million times , showed her looking unusually wide-eyed and gaunt, prompting a wave of speculation and commentary.
Rather than ignore the noise, Olivia chose to respond in her signature self-aware style, taking to Instagram Stories to poke fun at the moment and set the record straight.
Sharing a light-hearted clip filmed by her younger brother Charlie Cockburn, she addressed the viral reaction head-on. As he joked, “Olivia Wilde, do you care to address recent rumors that you’re a resurrected corpse?” she couldn’t help but laugh.
“I don’t know why I was so close to the camera; I didn’t have to be,” she said, wrapping herself in a blanket and grinning at the absurdity of it all. “Do you have any more questions?”
© Getty ImagesBefore signing off, she delivered the ultimate deadpan response: “I’m not dead.”
Alongside the video, she added: “Leave it to your little brother to give you the maximum amount of s***,” leaning into the humour of the situation rather than the criticism.
The actress also pointed to the distorting effect of a fisheye lens as the likely culprit behind the unflattering footage, a reminder of how quickly a single angle can take on a life of its own in the social media age.
© InstagramStill, the online reaction was swift and, at times, harsh. Some users voiced concern, while others made unfounded assumptions about her appearance, with one writing: “What is happening to these actresses?” and another questioning the pressures within Hollywood.
Yet in reality, Olivia’s red carpet look told a very different story. At the event, she appeared effortlessly chic in a crisp white T-shirt paired with a flowing black satin skirt featuring an asymmetric hem and subtle train. Her hair was pulled back neatly with a bow, completing a look that felt understated, elegant and entirely her.
© Getty ImagesShe was attending the festival to promote her latest project, The Invite, a dark comedy she both directed and stars in alongside Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton.
Produced by A24, the film follows a dinner party that spirals wildly out of control and is already generating buzz ahead of its June 26 release.
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