While the internet went crazy this week over Page Six’s news that Olivia Wilde and Harry Styles are dating, one person wasn’t so happy: Wilde’s former longtime fiancé, Jason Sudeikis.
Back in November, it was reported that Wilde and the “Ted Lasso” star, who were together for seven years and share two young children, had split.
But an insider told The Post that the relationship with Styles has actually been going on as far back as October, leaving “Saturday Night Live” vet Sudeikis distraught.
And while there were reports that Wilde and Sudeikis split in early 2020, other sources close to the couple say, in fact, that they broke up in early November — and cite Wilde’s relationship with Harry as the main reason for the split.
“Olivia and Jason were having issues, like any other couple, but Jason loves Olivia — he completely adores her, and that’s what makes this so sad. He’s always been committed to making their family work,” the source close to the couple said.
The pair had even recently bought a home in the UK, where Sudeikis is currently filming. “People have tried to make out that Harry and Olivia have only been dating for the past few weeks, but that’s not right,” the insider added. “Jason found out about Harry and pushed the conversation. Olivia then asked for a separation and news of the split was made public.”
This week, it was made abundantly clear that Wilde, 36, had indeed moved on when Page Six dropped photos of her hand-in-hand with singer and former One Direction heartthrob Styles, 26, at the intimate wedding of his manager, Jeffrey Azoff, to Glenne Christiaansen in Montecito, Calif.
It was then reported that friendship had transitioned into romance on the set of the thriller “Don’t Worry Darling,” directed by Wilde.
She had hired Styles in September to replace actor Shia LaBeouf, who is currently being sued by his former girlfriend FKA Twigs for alleged sexual assault and “relentless” abuse.
Styles, who first impressed Hollywood with his acting chops in the 2017 war film “Dunkirk,” plays the husband of a 1950s housewife who uncovers a disturbing truth about her seemingly perfect life.
Wilde has admitted she did a little “victory dance” after Styles joined the film. In the December issue of Vogue, for which Styles donned a dress on the cover, she said: “… I hope that this brand of confidence as a male that Harry has — truly devoid of any traces of toxic masculinity — is indicative of his generation … It’s pretty powerful and kind of extraordinary to see someone in his position redefining what it can mean to be a man with confidence.”
A source told Page Six that Wilde and Styles used his good pal James Corden’s house near Palm Springs during filming as a hideaway to keep their relationship secret. “They’re two fantastic people and everyone is happy for them,” a pal of Harry’s told The Post.
An industry veteran who has worked frequently with Styles admitted: “Harry has a habit of having flings with older women, it’s no wonder why Olivia fell for his charms.”
When he was just 17, Styles dated television host Caroline Flack after they met on the set of the UK’s “X Factor,” Simon Cowell’s TV talent show where One Direction was forged and found fame.
Flack was 31 at the time.
(The TV presenter committed suicide last February while facing trial over domestic abuse charges. A devastated Styles wore a black ribbon in tribute to her at the BRIT awards days later.)
At 18, Styles was asked “how old” of a woman “is too old” for him to consider dating. “Any woman older than my mum, Anne,” Styles replied. His mom is now 53.
His rather busy love life has also included singer Nicole Scherzinger, who is 16 years older, as well as models Kendall Jenner, Sara Sampaio, Georgia Fowler and Camille Rowe, all in their 20s, and 30-year-old actress Kiko Mizuhara. Styles dated Taylor Swift, a mere five years his senior, in 2012 and 2013, and it’s believed her hits “Out of the Woods” and “Style” are about him.
“I think he’s very smart,” a producer who has worked with Styles told The Post. “He is highly creative and has a lot of business savvy and he made a lot of high-profile friends when he was younger. He’ll walk into a room and shake hands with everyone from a CEO to the server, that’s how he was raised. He’s the same polite kid he always was.”
Proving that he’s not just a pretty face, Styles — who is up for three awards at the 2021 Grammys — launched his own record label, Erskine Records, under the umbrella of Columbia and is a director of companies including HSA Publishing Ltd and Rollcall Touring Ltd., which allows him to take ownership of his publishing rights.
“This is down to ambition. It’s almost ruthless ambition, but very polite. He had a very well-orchestrated plan for his solo career,” the producer said. “Harry sees how people evolve their images, like David Bowie and Madonna, and he knows all about the constant revision of your image to keep people talking and intrigued.
But you’ll never hear Styles chat too much about his private life. Although he’s aware that gossip comes with the territory: “Harry follows Kate Moss’ philosophy of ‘Never Complain, Never Explain,'” said the producer.
As for Wilde, she wed director, photographer and low-key Italian prince, Tao Ruspoli, when she was just 19, in 2002, and they split nine years later. During a show at Joe’s pub in NYC, she revealed: “I felt like my vagina died … turned off. Lights out … And you can lie to your relatives at Christmas dinner and tell them everything on the home front is just peachy. But you cannot lie to your vagina.”
Meanwhile, Ruspoli made a documentary called “Monogamish,” in which he said, “My wife has just left me after nearly 10 years together and my whole world has crumbled.”
Wilde met Sudeikis at an after-party for “SNL,” on which he starred for eight years. They got engaged in 2012, but never wed.
Now, despite all that’s happened, the insider said: “Jason would still do anything for Olivia.”