Spit and tell? Fans sent into frenzy as Harry Styles seems to SPIT in Chris Pine's lap before exchanging a cheeky smirk in front of girlfriend Olivia Wilde at Don't Worry Darling premiere in Venice

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Fans have been sent into a frenzy after they spotted Harry Styles seemingly spitting at Chris Pine as he took a seat next to him at the Venice Film Festival.

Styles, 28, who features the acclaimed film Don't Worry Darling, caused a stir after he allegedly approached his chair and appeared to gob in the actor's lap in front of his girlfriend, Olivia Wilde.

During the bizarre interaction, Chris Pine - who is clapping as Styles takes his assigned seat next to him - seems to stop in his tracks, look down at his leg, and stick out his tongue in disbelief.

The laughing actor, 42, then shoots an amusing look back at the pop star - who is too busy adjusting his jacket and smiling around the room to notice Pine's cheeky reaction. 

A source close to Chris Pine told MailOnline: 'Harry Styles did not spit at all. People are seeing some odd illusion of sorts online that is clearly deceiving.'

While it's unclear what actually did occur between the pair in front of Olivia Wilde, fans have speculated that the singer-turned-actor did indeed aim and spit into Pine's lap during the prestigious event. 

But others are convinced that Pine was just fiddling with his sunglasses, which were placed between his legs. 

Chris' representative told People: 'Just to be clear, Harry Styles did not spit on Chris Pine.

'There is nothing but respect between these two men and any suggestion otherwise is a blatant attempt to create drama that simply does not exist.

This is just the latest instalment of drama surrounding the actors in Don't Worry Darling - who have stirred up a barrage of gossip ahead of the film's premier. 

New: As if the behind-the-scenes drama on the Don't Worry Darling set hasn't been awkward enough with the film's premiere in Venice, a possible new wrinkle has surfaced

In 2021, troubled star Shia LaBeouf was fired from the movie after reportedly clashing with Wilde on set. Something that Wilde appeared to confirm in an interview.

However, in August 2022, LaBeouf provided evidence to Variety that Wilde had sought to keep him on the film. Part of that evidence saw Wilde speak disparagingly about the movie's lead, Florence Pugh. 

That led to more reports that Pugh and Wilde had beef on set. In the lead-up to the film's release, Pugh did little-to-no promotion for the movie. 

In a red carpet interview just prior to the alleged spitting incident, Pine spoke lovingly about his time working with Pugh. 

The rumor now is that Styles, Wilde's boyfriend, saw this as a sign that Pine was taking sides in the argument and this is how he reacted. 

Neither Pine nor Styles have commented publicly on the supposed incident, though this theory has no shortage of support on Twitter.

Another video from Variety's Ramin Setoodeh shows another angle of Styles taking his seat, and seemingly lasts a few seconds longer.

This video also appears to show Pine and Styles chatting briefly, though it's unclear what was said during the interaction.

Styles seems to be having a relatively polite conversation with his co-star, which seems as if it would be unlikely if he had just spat on him. Sources have since confirmed this is not true.

Comment: Neither Pine nor Styles have commented publicly on the supposed incident, though this theory has no shortage of support on Twitter

Spit: When Styles gets to his seat, he slightly bends over Pine before sitting down, a motion which some have speculated is Styles spitting on Pine

Immediately: Immediately after Styles made that motion, Pine abruptly stops clapping and looks to his lap before he starts laughing as the brief video comes to an end

Another: Another video from Variety's Ramin Setoodeh shows another angle of Styles taking his seat, and seemingly lasts a few seconds longer

Oddly, this isn't the first time that spitting may have gotten Styles negative publicity. 

For years, fans of the former One Direction star embraced his routine at concerts where he would take a gulp of water and then spit it out at the crowd. The move was known was a 'the whale.'

In September 2021, when Styles took to the stage in Las Vegas in his first concert since the Covid-19 pandemic, Styles performed the whale.

He was roundly criticized for the move. 

One fan wrote on Twitter: 'I love you dearly. But it's Covid. Please stop taking a drink from water bottles then throwing it on people and doing the whale. 

'That's…an incredible amount of germs. I know most of us would let you spit in our mouths but just maybe retire it for this tour? No hate.'

Another tweeted: 'I am a directioner but dear god?? harry just spit in front of the crowd? in the middle of the pandemic and he's getting praised because of it? how tf.' 

Coincidentally, during the height of his One Direction days back in 2013, Styles was quoted as saying that he would never date a woman who spat in public. 

The singer said: 'I don't think I've ever dated a girl who's spat. I mean when you drive down the street and you see somebody spit? That's gross.'

The videos caused quite a stir among many on Twitter, with even Setoodeh himself adding more speculative fuel to the fire with a quote-retweet of his own tweet, hours after the video was taken.

'Coming from the #DontWorryDarling premiere tonight, this is all I can say: There are no trash cans in the Sala Grande — not in the lobby or in the mezzanine where these seats are located. 

'So hypothetically, if you were chewing a piece of gum, there'd be no place to put it,' Setoodeh said.

No place: 'Coming from the #DontWorryDarling premiere tonight, this is all I can say: There are no trash cans in the Sala Grande — not in the lobby or in the mezzanine where these seats are located. So hypothetically, if you were chewing a piece of gum, there'd be no place to put it,' Setoodeh said

Truth: '#HarryStyles appears to spit on Chris Pine I won't sleep until I know the truth,' he said

Seinfeld: Others like @GianmarcoSoresi compared the supposed spit to an episode of Seinfeld entitled The Boyfriend, where Kramer (Michael Richards) and Newman (Wayne Knight) tell a wild tale about New York Mets player Keith Hernandez spitting on Kramer

Watching: @shayfill666 shared Judd Apatow's tweet about the Will Smith Oscar slap, adding, 'Me watching Harry spit on Chris'

While Setoodeh didn't tweet any further about the spit debacle, plenty of other Twitter users did, including @Mac70J, who shared the video and stated, '

'#HarryStyles appears to spit on Chris Pine I won't sleep until I know the truth,' he said.

Others like @GianmarcoSoresi compared the supposed spit to an episode of Seinfeld entitled The Boyfriend, where Kramer (Michael Richards) and Newman (Wayne Knight) tell a wild tale about New York Mets player Keith Hernandez spitting on Kramer. 

Soresi shared an image from that episode in his tweet, adding, 'Me and my gay friends trying to figure out if Harry Styles spit at Chris Pine.' 

Mystery: @RegardingJosh added, 'Whether or not Harry spit on Chris is gonna be one of the great mysteries of our time. Like what Bill Murray whispered at the end of Lost in Translation or Who bit Beyonce'

Herde: @been_herde added, 'the 'I did not spit on that man' notes app apology Harry Styles will soon be forced to tweet is already shaping up to be an all-timer

Benson: @Benson_TheDad added, 'HARRY STYLES SAID HIS FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE MOVIE IS THAT IT FEELS LIKE A MOVIE. HE THEN APPARENTLY SPIT ON CHRIS PINE'

Landed: @cursedhive added a photo of Keke Palmer on Hot Ones adding, 'Chris Pine when that spit landed'

Streets: @mitthrawnu added, 'The streets calling it spitgate oh this is getting serious

Stanss: @spidervalkyrie added 'harry stans trying to find a way to blame olivia for spitgate

Left: @filmotreides added 'i left twitter for an hour and came back to *checks notes* spitgate this can't be fr'