The promotional trail for a high-budget literary adaptation is usually a meticulously choreographed dance of high fashion and curated soundbites. However, for the upcoming reimagining of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, the dance has turned into a stumble. On January 28, 2026, the streets of Los Angeles became the epicenter of a digital firestorm when Margot Robbie debuted a “medieval-inspired” look that many fans found more confusing than captivating.
But the wardrobe malfunction was only the tip of the iceberg. The outfit’s polarizing reception collided head-on with intensifying online chatter surrounding Robbie and her co-star, Jacob Elordi. Between whispers of “emotional cheating” and a campaign that critics claim feels disconnected from the source material, the road to the Moors is looking increasingly rocky.
The “Medieval-Inspired” Misfire: Deconstructing the Red Carpet Look
Margot Robbie has long been the darling of “method dressing,” a trend where actors dress in the spirit of their characters. For Catherine Earnshaw, fans expected something haunting, windswept, and Victorian. Instead, Robbie arrived in a daring ensemble featuring a beaded structural bra, a snakeskin-print leather corset, and an ultra-short miniskirt.
The reaction was swift and merciless. Within hours, social media was flooded with comparisons that ranged from the bizarre to the scathing. Critics described the outfit as a “bathing suit with long sleeves” or a “figure skating costume” that had lost its way. The monochromatic red makeup and heavy choker were meant to evoke a gothic intensity, but to the digital audience, it felt like an experimental fashion project that missed the mark of Brontë’s desolate, grit-covered classic.
Dive into this revealing interview where Margot Robbie opens up about her ‘unhinged’ viewing experiences and the intense, inseparable bond she formed with Jacob Elordi on set. See for yourself why the internet can’t stop talking about their electric—and controversial—connection.
“It’s Wearing Her”: Decoding the Body Language Controversy
Beyond the fabric itself, it was Robbie’s physical presence that caught the eye of body language experts and casual observers alike. In a series of viral photos, the 35-year-old actress appeared visibly stiff, often clutching her hands in front of her thighs or close to her midsection.
Online detectives were quick to interpret these movements as a sign of discomfort with the outfit’s extremely high hemline. “She looks like she’s constantly checking to see if she’s covered,” one viral comment noted. This led to a consensus among detractors that the outfit was “wearing her” rather than the other way around. In the world of high-fashion promotion, the goal is for the star to look empowered; when the audience spends more time worrying about the actress’s comfort than her character, the marketing strategy has arguably failed.
Witness the undeniable, high-tension energy as Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi fully embody the brooding passion of Catherine and Heathcliff.
The “Mutual Obsession”: When Scripted Chemistry Sparks Personal Scrutiny
While the fashion was being dissected, a deeper drama was brewing. The “cheating” rumors involving Jacob Elordi (who plays Heathcliff) moved from the fringes of the internet to the mainstream following a series of revealing interviews. The stars’ admission of a “mutual obsession” on set has fueled a narrative that goes beyond professional admiration.
In a mid-January conversation with Fandango, Robbie admitted to feeling “unnerved and unmoored” whenever Elordi wasn’t nearby, comparing herself to a “kid without their blanket.” Elordi echoed this intensity, stating he made sure to stay within five to ten meters of her at all times. While these comments might have been intended to build hype for their on-screen romance, they instead prompted a wave of backlash from fans who found the language “inappropriate” for a married actress.
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A Marriage Under the Microscope: The Tom Ackerley Factor
The scrutiny is particularly sharp given Robbie’s personal life. The actress is married to producer Tom Ackerley, and the couple recently welcomed their first son in October 2024. For many fans, the timing of the “obsession” narrative feels insensitive.
The fire was further stoked when eagle-eyed fans spotted Robbie wearing a matching signet ring that appeared to be linked to Elordi during the Los Angeles photocall. While celebrities often share promotional accessories, the internet viewed it as a confirmation of the “emotional cheating” theory. The silence from Ackerley’s camp has allowed the public to project a narrative of a marriage under strain, turning the Wuthering Heights press tour into a tabloid-style soap opera.
A Pattern of Controversy: From Costume Outrage to Aesthetic Dissonance
This latest fashion fail isn’t an isolated incident; it’s part of a larger pattern of skepticism surrounding this adaptation. Earlier set photos featuring Robbie in a voluminous, off-the-shoulder white gown were previously slammed by Brontë purists for being “too pretty” and “too modern.”
Critics argue that the film is veering dangerously close to a “soft-erotic” aesthetic rather than a Gothic one. The teaser trailer’s heavy reliance on intimate imagery and the recent Vogue Australia shoot—which many claimed showed “zero chemistry” despite the proximity of the actors—has left fans questioning if the director understands the raw, unpolished nature of the original novel.
The Stakes of a February Release: Can the Film Recover?
With the film set for a theatrical release on February 13, 2026—just in time for Valentine’s Day—the pressure is on. The current “Photocall Crisis” presents a difficult challenge for the marketing team: do they lean into the controversy and the “Goth Barbie” aesthetic, or do they attempt to pivot back to the traditional, somber roots of the story?
Jacob Elordi’s polarizing star power is a double-edged sword. While he brings a massive Gen-Z audience, the perceived lack of authentic chemistry with Robbie could hinder the film’s chances with older, more traditional audiences. The next few months of promotion will be critical in determining whether Wuthering Heights becomes a modern classic or a cautionary tale of “over-marketing” gone wrong.
Final Thoughts: The Fraught Path to the Moors
The controversy surrounding Margot Robbie’s Wuthering Heights promo tour is a fascinating case study in the modern intersection of fashion, celebrity gossip, and literary tradition. It highlights the fine line actors must walk when reimagining beloved characters in an age of instant, viral feedback.
Whether the “bathing suit” outfit was a brilliant piece of avant-garde art or a genuine fashion mistake, it has successfully dominated the conversation. However, the shadow of the cheating rumors and the disconnect from the source material suggest that the film’s greatest challenge won’t be the critics—it will be winning back the hearts of a skeptical audience. Margot Robbie has weathered storms before, but as she steps into the shoes of Catherine Earnshaw, she finds herself in a gale of her own making.
