Jason Sudeikis has said media coverage of his split from Olivia Wilde overlooked the complexity of their relationship, describing the portrayal of personal disputes as too focused on assigning right and wrong.
The Ted Lasso actor discussed the 2020 break-up during an appearance on the Talk Easy podcast with Sam Fragoso. Sudeikis and Wilde had been together for nearly a decade before separating.
Asked what coverage had got wrong, Sudeikis replied: “Oh, gosh. I mean, a million little things.”
He said the experience had given him greater empathy for people going through similar situations, while stressing that he did not wish such circumstances on anyone.
“I just mean these, interpersonal situations that then get portrayed as being these binary situations of right and wrong… It’s always more complicated, more human than that,” he said.
Sudeikis added: “And to be clear, this isn’t like, all evil is just misunderstood or something like that.”
Jason Sudeikis praises Olivia Wilde’s work
During the podcast, Sudeikis also praised Wilde’s career since their separation. The actress has continued working in front of and behind the camera, including directing and producing films.
“Olivia loves what she does and is very, very good at and always has been. I’m thrilled for her,” he said.
Sudeikis and Wilde began dating in 2011 and became engaged the following year, although they never married. They share two children, son Otis, 12, and daughter Daisy, 10.
In 2021, Sudeikis revealed the timeline of their break-up, which corresponded with the period when their separation was announced. The actor and his children made a rare public appearance together at the Ted Lasso season four premiere in Los Angeles during the summer.
