Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi ‘Wuthering Heights’ Promo Draws Scrutiny

LOS ANGELES (Azat TV) – A new intimate photoshoot featuring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi for the February 2026 issue of Vogue Australia has sparked widespread online debate, drawing significant scrutiny just weeks before the theatrical release of their upcoming film adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic novel, Wuthering Heights. Fans and critics alike are questioning the actors’ perceived on-screen chemistry, their seven-year age gap, and recent comments made by Robbie that have fueled accusations of ‘cheating’ and speculation about their dynamic.

Vogue Photoshoot Ignites Online Firestorm

The Vogue Australia campaign, themed ‘This Is a Summer of Love’ and released on January 20, 2026, features intimate images of Margot Robbie, 35, and Jacob Elordi, 28, in various poses, including one where Robbie is embraced by Elordi with her legs wrapped around his waist. While intended to promote the film, which premieres on January 28, 2026, in Los Angeles and hits theaters on February 13, 2026, the images quickly became a lightning rod for criticism.

Social media users were largely unimpressed, with many commenting on a perceived ‘lack of chemistry’ between the two stars. One critic observed, ‘I think MR just oozes confidence while JE still looks so… lost and unsure? It looks like she is leading in each photo and he can’t keep up.’ Another added that Elordi appeared ‘disassociating’ while Robbie was ‘doing all of the heavy lifting.’ The visual maturity mismatch was also highlighted, with some suggesting Robbie looked more like an ‘older sister’ to Elordi, leading to questions about a potential ‘mental maturity mismatch.’

Actors’ Comments Fuel Speculation

The photoshoot controversy was intensified by remarks Margot Robbie made during a promotional press tour interview with Fandango last week. The Oscar nominee revealed a ‘mutual obsession’ and described feeling ‘codependent’ with Elordi during filming. She stated, ‘I was really unnerved and unmoored [when he wasn’t around], I felt quite lost, like a kid without their blanket or something.’ These comments quickly stirred online speculation and led to accusations of ‘cheating’ directed at Robbie, who has been married to film producer Tom Ackerley since 2016 and welcomed a son in 2024.

Jacob Elordi, known for his roles in Euphoria and Frankenstein, also shared his perspective on their working relationship during the Fandango interview. He recounted moments on set where he felt they truly embodied their characters, Heathcliff and Catherine. ‘There’d be a moment where we’d be running hand-in-hand through the moors… where I’d look across at her, and she’d be looking at me, and you really realized you are looking at Catherine and she was looking at Heathcliff,’ Elordi explained, adding, ‘And in that moment, we really were a part of their love, for real.’ These statements further fueled online discussions about their dynamic and the nature of their professional bond.

‘Wuthering Heights’ Adaptation Faces Broader Criticisms

The promotional controversies surrounding Robbie and Elordi add to pre-existing criticisms leveled against Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Wuthering Heights. Since its teaser release last September, the film has faced accusations of ‘whitewashing’ due to the casting of Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, a character described in Brontë’s novel as ‘dark-skinned’ and a ‘Lascar,’ implying non-European descent. Furthermore, Robbie’s casting as Catherine Earnshaw has been criticized for being age-inappropriate, as the character is a teenager in the novel while Robbie is 35.

The film’s initial teaser was also widely slammed as ‘Fifty Shades of Heathcliff’ or ‘soft p*rn’ by social media users, who argued that it overly focused on erotic imagery rather than the novel’s core themes of generational trauma and class struggle. Some online commentators have drawn parallels between Robbie and Elordi’s current promotional strategy and that of Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga for A Star Is Born, suggesting a calculated attempt to generate hype through hints of real-life chemistry.

Margot Robbie’s Press Tour Style Embraces Gothic Romance

Amidst the growing online discourse, Margot Robbie has commenced her press tour for Wuthering Heights, showcasing a distinct shift in her public fashion aesthetic. On Monday, January 26, the actress appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in Hollywood, arriving in a striking black lace sheer dress with strappy heels, emphasizing a classically glamorous look. Her stylist, Andrew Mukamal, also shared photos of Robbie in a Roberto Cavalli minidress with a deep square neckline, velvet trim, and dramatic bell sleeves.

This ‘Gothic Romance’ aesthetic, complete with a black velvet choker featuring a large red gemstone pendant and high-heeled pumps, has been noted by fashion critics as a powerful nod to literary heroines and historical elegance, while maintaining a modern edge. Robbie’s hair was styled in loose, natural-looking waves, described as having a ‘windswept, ethereal quality,’ further aligning with the mood of the classic novel.

The confluence of intense online scrutiny over chemistry and age gaps, combined with pre-existing criticisms of the film’s casting and tone, suggests that the promotional campaign for ‘Wuthering Heights’ is navigating a complex landscape where audience expectations and social commentary are significantly shaping public perception before the film even reaches theaters.