The late-night host jokes with the director a bit, responding with a hasty whisper, “Only time will tell. We’ll see.” The interaction brought Wilde into a fit of laughter.

“I think it’s a perfect example of, like, people going for drama wherever they can,” the director said, explaining her take on the popularity of the rumour.

During the full conversation, Wilde acknowledged the negative online chatter surrounding the film.

“This whole experience kind of changed the way I think about the internet,” Wilde said. “But, really, it’s kind of ironic, because all of that is really what the movie is about. The movie is about the stories that we’re fed and whether we choose to accept them or question their sources.

Wilde also addressed Shia LaBeouf’s claims that he wasn’t fired from “Don’t Worry Darling.” The actor, who was later replaced by Styles, screenshots posted of text conversations between him and the filmmaker, alleging that he chose to leave the production due to a lack of rehearsal time.

“Early in the filmmaking process, as a director, I tried to mediate a situation between people to try to see if they could work together happily,” Wilde said. “Once it became clear that this wasn’t a sustainable working relationship, I was given an ultimatum. I chose my actress — which I’m very happy about. At the time, was I disappointed that we couldn’t make it work? Yes. Did any information about him come to light later that convinced me we made the right decision? Yes.”

“We had to replace Shia,” Wilde continued when asked by Colbert if she fired Shia LaBeouf. “When he gave the ultimatum – him or Florence – I chose Florence.”

A Pine representative was quick to deny that the actor was spat on by Styles after the film premiered on September 5, calling the story “a ridiculous story” and “a complete fabrication.”

Later styles jokingly acknowledged rumored at a Madison Square Garden concert two days after the hypothetical incident: “It’s wonderful, wonderful, wonderful to be back in New York. I just rushed to Venice to spit on Chris Pine. But don’t worry, we’re back!

The supposed drooling scuttlebutt is just an off-screen narrative that has dogged “Don’t Worry Darling” for the past few weeks. Star Florence Pugh and Wilde did not pose together on the Venice red carpet, fanning the flames of rumors the two had a falling out during production of the film.

“Florence is a force”, said Wilde during the screening of the film Venice press conference when asked to “clear the air” about the chat. “When it comes to all the endless tabloid gossip and noise, the internet feeds on itself. I don’t feel the need to contribute; I think he is sufficiently well fed.

Warner Bros. will open “Don’t Worry Darling” in theaters on Friday.