For years, Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis seemed like one of Hollywood’s most grounded couples. The pair started dating in 2011, got engaged in 2013, and had two kids together—Otis and Daisy—while maintaining low-key public lives.
So, when news broke in late 2020 that they had ended their seven-year engagement, many fans were stunned. What made the situation even messier? Just weeks later, Wilde was linked to international pop star Harry Styles, who she had cast in her film Don’t Worry Darling.
Naturally, rumors spread like wildfire. Had Olivia Wilde really left Jason Sudeikis for Harry Styles? Was there overlap between her longtime relationship and her new romance?
Or was something else going on behind the scenes? Now, Wilde is setting the record straight, and her version of events paints a much more complex—and far less scandalous—picture than the internet gossip ever did.
The Breakup That Started It All
According to Wilde, her relationship with Sudeikis didn’t unravel overnight. In fact, she told Vanity Fair that their split happened “long before” Styles entered the picture.
“The complete horse— idea that I left Jason for Harry is completely inaccurate,” she stated firmly. She emphasized that like many relationships, hers with Sudeikis slowly declined over time. “Like any relationship that ends, it doesn’t end overnight. Unfortunately, Jason and I had a very bumpy road, and we officially dissolved the relationship towards the beginning of the pandemic.”
That would place the real breakup sometime in early 2020—months before Wilde and Styles even met. This timeline is important because it directly contradicts the public perception that Olivia left one man for another.
Wilde and Sudeikis continued to co-parent their children even after the romantic chapter of their lives ended. Wilde said they tried living together post-breakup for the sake of their children, but eventually realized that it was no longer healthy.
“Once it became clear that cohabitating was no longer beneficial for the children, it became the responsible thing to not, because we could be better parents as friends who live in different houses,” she explained.
What Led to the End of Olivia and Jason?
It wasn’t just one dramatic moment that ended things—it was years of slow change. Wilde was 27 when she began dating Sudeikis, and by her mid-30s, she says she had grown into a different version of herself.
“I evolved a lot between when I was 27 and 35,” she told Vanity Fair. “I found myself as a director. And I think I found myself as an individual. And sometimes when you evolve, you evolve out of relationships that were based on an earlier version of yourself.”
That kind of self-discovery is not uncommon, especially for women in the public eye who are balancing family, fame, and career ambitions. Wilde’s directorial debut, Booksmart, launched her into a new level of professional acclaim. And her follow-up film, Don’t Worry Darling, marked a turning point not only in her career—but also in her personal life.
Enter Harry Styles
While directing Don’t Worry Darling, Wilde cast Harry Styles in a leading role. It was during this time, sometime in late 2020 or early 2021, that their connection reportedly began.
But Wilde insists that her relationship with Styles didn’t overlap with her past romance. She was already navigating single motherhood, learning how to co-parent with Sudeikis, and adjusting to a new chapter of life when she started seeing Styles.
While some fans speculated that Wilde had left one man for another, she has repeatedly denied this version of events. Instead, she suggests that her romance with Styles blossomed only after she had already gone through the difficult emotional process of ending her long-term relationship.
Public Scrutiny and Custody Drama
Unfortunately, even after their breakup, Wilde and Sudeikis’s personal issues didn’t stay private. In April 2022, while presenting Don’t Worry Darling onstage at CinemaCon, Wilde was handed custody papers in front of a live audience. The moment went viral, and many viewed it as a low blow from Sudeikis.
Wilde later told Vanity Fair that the incident wasn’t a shock. “So many people were shocked on my behalf,” she said. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t that shocked. There’s a reason that I didn’t stay in that relationship. That was consistent with my experience of the relationship.”
She added that her main regret was how public the moment became. “Unfortunately, [my children] will know that happened,” she said, expressing sadness that Otis and Daisy would one day read about the very public feud between their parents.
Her Kids Come First
Despite the headlines, Wilde maintains that her priority is—and always has been—her kids. “There’s nothing that is more important to me,” she said, adding that she cherishes the simple joys of parenthood like school drop-offs and bedtime routines. “They’re my best friends,” she said sweetly.
Even amid her romance with Styles, Wilde made it clear that family comes first. That means ensuring that her children feel loved and supported, regardless of who she’s dating or how her past relationships played out in the public eye.
Lessons in Love and Growth
Wilde’s story isn’t one of betrayal or impulsive romance—it’s about growing up, growing apart, and finding new love at the right time. While the public was quick to assume that Styles was the reason for her split from Sudeikis, Wilde herself is adamant that their relationship ended on its own terms.
“It was a relationship that no longer served both of us,” she seemed to suggest through her interviews. And while she’s been in the spotlight for years, Wilde admits she’s still figuring things out—just like everyone else.
Having been married before (to filmmaker Tao Ruspoli from 2003 to 2011), Wilde says she’s not ruling out love or even marriage again one day. She pointed to her parents’ lasting relationship as a reminder that deep partnership is still possible. “They’re best friends. And I think that’s what marriage really is,” she said.
So, Did She Really Leave Jason for Harry?
In Wilde’s own words—no. She didn’t leave Jason Sudeikis for Harry Styles. The relationship was already over before Styles came into the picture, and Wilde has consistently denied the cheating rumors that tried to frame her as the villain in a love triangle.
Instead, what we see is a story of personal evolution, tough choices, and a woman finding her footing as a director, mother, and individual. Love didn’t pull her away from Sudeikis—growth did. And while her relationship with Styles made headlines, it was just one piece of a much bigger journey.
