Kiki Layne recently announced that most of her and her co-star Ariel Stachel’s sequences in Don’t Worry Darling have been removed. Kiki rushed to Instagram to address the omission, as the film was set to hit US theaters on September 23, 2022. Kiki Layne, known for her roles in Beale Street Could Talk, Native Son and The Old Guard, said on Instagram that her sequences of Don’t Worry Darling were removed. She mentioned Ariel Stachel, a Tony Award winner best known for his performance on The Band’s Visit.
The caption of the message reads:
“The best thing about #DontWorryDarling is that I got to meet @arielstachel.” They cut us out of most of the movie, but in real life we’re doing well.”
Stachel responded in the comment section of the post, saying:
“My love. You are a queen, and your gift shines… I was thirsty then, and I still am.”
The hashtags in the photo, including “got my check,” “I have my husband,” and “everything happens for a reason,” seem to confirm that the two stars are dating.
Many sequences in Don’t Worry Darling were cut with Kiki Layne and Ariel Stachel.
Margaret and Ted, a 1950s desert village Victory who are more than they seem, were portrayed by Kiki Layne and Ariel Stachel. Margaret, played by Layne, is said to be a trigger for Florence Pugh’s primary character, Alice, in the film. Kiki Layne has just finished production on Netflix’s The Old Guard 2 starring Charlize Theron and Chiwetel Ejiofor, for those unfamiliar with the actor’s previous work. She has also later appeared in films such as Native Son and Coming 2 America, as well as a voice in Chip’n Dale: Rescue Rangers.
Ariel Stachel, on the other hand, was in Zola, Netflix’s Jessica Jones and the upcoming Law & Order: Hate Crimes. While Kiki Layne stated that her moments with Stachel were removed from the film, the two shared some behind-the-scenes photos with their fans after the film’s premiere. Ariel shared a behind-the-scenes look at Kiki Layne on his Instagram account. He wrote, complimenting the actor:
“My favorite aspect of my Don’t Worry Darling experience.” This lady did a fantastic job and I was thirsty when I met her.”
He also turned to Instagram to express his gratitude to Kiki Layne. The following is an excerpt from the note:
“There are some really horrific things happening in the world right now, but I feel INCREDIBLY blessed to live in a country where a woman – a woman of color and a black woman – continues to push boundaries and fulfill all her ambitions.” I consider myself lucky to live in a time where I can be inspired, pushed, seen, encouraged, and on and on by this wonderful lady. [sic]”
Although the film has been plagued with controversy, including clashes between Olivia Wilde and Shia LaBeouf and Florence Pugh, it has finally been released in US cinemas.