Have you ever disconnected while a colleague was talking? We have all been there. Actor Chris Pine was caught in such a moment during the Venice Film Festival press conference for his new movie Don’t Worry Darling, and it quickly became a meme.
Here’s the background: Pine stars in the psychological thriller directed by Olivia Wilde, which hits US theaters September 23. Although few people have yet seen the film, it is making headlines for the supposed controversy surrounding on-set relationships and other issues.
And now there’s the photo, taken at the Venice Film Festival ahead of a screening of the film, in which Pine stares into the distance as co-star Harry Styles gives a bizarre answer to a question. “I think, you know, my favorite thing about the movie is that it feels like a…movie,” Styles said. Fans had a lot of opinions on what exactly Pine was thinking.
A lot of people have used the same word to describe Pine’s look — “dissociate,” as in, Pine really, really wishes he were somewhere else. (And as you’ll notice from her various outfits below, Pine didn’t just flaunt this look once, fans memorized various photos from different press events.)
Wrote one, “Chris Pine looking like a white suburban mother in the morning after a crying wine party.”
Another said: “I get you Chris Pine. I too want to dissociate myself from what is going on around me.”
I understand you, Chris Pine. I too want to dissociate myself from what is happening around me.
— Flilis Skywalker 🇧🇷 💛❤💙🤍 (@flilisoffexegol) September 6, 2022
Olivia Wilde: Florence Pugh is a force. When you watch this movie, you’re gonna say “It’s Florence Pugh”
Harry Styles: I’m not an actor, I’m an actor, you know?
Chris Pine: *Astral projecting towards the Swiss Alps*— Ben Crew – Muppets Gatsby (@BenjaminCrew1) September 5, 2022
The meme follows “spitgate”: On Monday, the internet lit up over-reviewing a piece of video that some say showed Styles spitting on Pine during the press event.
Agree with this enhanced video… YOU CAN’T TELL ME HARRY STYLES DIDN’T SPIT AT CHRIS PINE 🤣🤣 Harry’s mouth movement and Chris’ reaction WHAT IS HAPPENING 💀💀 pic.twitter.com/VAthKyRxiF
— Ethan Cole (@itsethancole) September 6, 2022
GameSpot’s Mark Serrels summed it up nicely in a previous post: “After careful consideration, I am absolutely of the opinion that Styles did not spit on Pine because that would be insane.” And on Tuesday, People magazine quoted a rep for Pine who completely dismissed the idea of intentionally spitting.
“It’s a ridiculous story – a complete fabrication and the result of a bizarre online illusion that is clearly misleading and allows for wild speculation,” the rep said. “To be clear, Harry Styles did not spit on Chris Pine. There is nothing but respect between these two men and any suggestion to the contrary is a blatant attempt to create drama that simply does not exist.”
If half of this off-screen drama shows up in the movie, it’s sure to be an Oscar contender.
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