Reader, I can hardly believe that I'm coming to you on Steve Jobs's Internet to ask one single, horrifying question: Did Harry Styles spit on Chris Pine?!
Allow me to explain. A video leaked from this weekend's Venice Film Festival premiere of Don't Worry Darling shows Styles taking a seat beside his co-star-and seemingly hocking a loogie right into his lap. In the footage, Pine freezes mid-clap and stares disbelievingly into his lap, then smiles and laughs to himself. Styles, for his part, looks forward with the placid who, me?! expression we've all used on our mothers after doing something uncouth. It seems entirely unlikely that one of our biggest pop stars would spit on Hollywood's Best Chris (yeah, I said it!) in front of the entire global press, but that's the mind-boggling thing-when you watch the video, your eyes don't lie.
But SpitGate is just the latest installment in months of bizarre rumors swirling around Don't Worry Darling. Ever since star Florence Pugh failed to promote the film on social media back in July, it's been rumored that Pugh and director Olivia Wilde have fallen out over Wilde's alleged lack of professionalism (AKA, her on-set affair with Styles, which reportedly led to a hands-off directorial approach). The drama went nuclear a few weeks ago when Wilde spoke to Variety about firing Shia LaBeouf from the film and bringing in Styles as his replacement, claiming that she did so over LaBeouf's "combative energy" in an effort to keep Pugh "safe." LaBeouf disputed her recollection of events, hitting back with a staggering amount of text and email receipts asserting that he quit the film. In one leaked video message from 2020, Wilde pleads with LaBeouf not to quit, seeming to blame Pugh for failing to collaborate with the actor (who faces allegations of abusive behavior).
As all this drama swirls, fellow Don't Worry Darling stars like Pine, Gemma Chan, and Nick Kroll have gone full Switzerland. But in Venice, the tide may have turned. Pugh declined to join her co-stars in promoting the film in press conferences, but Pine made headlines in her absence, appearing to downright dissociate in an interview alongside Styles. By contrast, he enthusiastically acted as Pugh's personal hype man on the red carpet, snapping pictures of her looking glamorous. This all comes on the heels of Pine effusing about Pugh just days ago, "I don't know if there's anyone better. To be so young and so in charge of her craft... she's such a kind person and a giving actor. I love her to death."
If Styles did spit on Pine, could it be because he seemingly sided with Pugh in this supposed ongoing feud? The good people of Twitter sure think so. Last night, Twitter erupted over SpitGate, with armchair detectives analyzing the footage late into the wee hours of the morning. Below, we've rounded up the best of what eagle-eyed Twitter users are saying.
What is @POTUS doing to protect our Americans abroad (Chris Pine) from foreign threats (Harry Styles)??????
the "i did not spit on that man" notes app apology harry styles will soon be forced to tweet is already shaping up to be an all-timer
the don't worry darling drama is getting more and more absurd like what do you mean harry styles [spins wheel] spit on [spins wheel] chris pine
spitting on chris pine.hurts to see others living my dreams
watching harry styles spit on chris pine like it's the zapruder film i can't look away pls help
did you see this? harry styles spit on chris pine. yeah, it's true. people are dissecting the footage looking for a second spitter but apparently it only came from one direction pic.twitter.com/76GiOxj8Ye
(THE SITUATION ROOM AT 2AM THIS MORNING)
Biden: Alright, what is it?
(SILENCE)
Biden: Let's hear it.
(PEOPLE EXCHANGE LOOKS)
Biden: For Chrissakes, why'd you drag me out of bed?
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs: We need you to take a look at this video of the actor Chris Pine, sir.
breaking down the harry styles-chris pine spit incident pic.twitter.com/mlBdUCeEmx
The TL right now trying to figure out the truth behind the Harry Styles/Chris Pine Spit-Gate: pic.twitter.com/RO9yFaNM2K
We all know Chris Pine is the best Chris so choosing to spit on him on live television is not only ballsy but dumb af??
Jason Derulo has slipped on Harry Styles' spit and fallen down the stairs at the Venice Film Festival pic.twitter.com/EAsv0occu6
This has been the second most fun day online since Trump almost died of Covid