Olivia Wilde backtracks on controversial Jordan Peterson insult
Olivia Wilde regrets Jordan Peterson 'pseudo-intellectual' swipe
Olivia Wilde has admitted she may have been too harsh when she branded Jordan Peterson a "pseudo-intellectual hero to the incel community."
The 42-year-old actress insists her concerns about his influence remain firmly in place.
She reignited debate over the long-running row during an appearance on The Louis Theroux Podcast, where she reflected on the explosive comments she made while promoting Don't Worry Darling back in 2022.
Looking back, Wilde acknowledged she may have crossed a line.
"It might have been unfair for me to call him a pseudo-intellectual," she admitted, adding that Peterson "obviously thinks about things deeply".
However, she argued that his ideas represent a more polished version of the beliefs that, in her view, can ultimately lead followers towards more extreme figures such as Andrew Tate.
Despite softening her stance on the wording, the filmmaker made it clear she has not changed her opinion about the wider impact of Peterson's message.
She claimed that what she described as a "sanitised" philosophy has been embraced by people who may not see themselves as misogynistic, but still helps reinforce ideas rooted in sexism and male entitlement.
The Invite actress also linked those concerns to broader political and cultural shifts, arguing that such ideologies have contributed to the rise of movements she considers dangerous.
The controversy first intensified when Peterson became visibly emotional during an interview with Piers Morgan after hearing Wilde's remarks.
Fighting back tears, the psychologist said many young men already feel isolated and lost, arguing that casually dismissing them as "incels" only deepens their sense of alienation.
He urged people to show more compassion, insisting many lonely young men are simply searching for purpose rather than deserving ridicule, even as the debate over his influence continues to divide opinion.
