'Another Simple Favor' director Paul Feig clears air on Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick feud rumors
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Speculations of a feud between Blake Lively and her 'Another Simple Favor' co-star Anna Kendrick have been circulating after they attended the South by Southwest (SXSW) film festival.
However, the film’s director, Paul Feig, is setting the record straight.
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Paul Feig's response to Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick's rumored feud
On March 7, social media personality Melanie King speculated that Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick were at odds ahead of promoting their film, a sequel to the 2018 thriller 'A Simple Favor'.
"Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick before they walk the red carpet at the SXSW Another Simple Favor premiere. I just reported on Blake being terrified to walk the carpet as Anna is pissed and never wants to work with her again," King wrote on X.
Feig quickly shut down the rumor with a short but direct response as he wrote on X, "Um … you’re wrong."
Anna Kendrick’s cryptic comments fuel speculation
Despite Paul Feig’s clarification, fans remained curious after Anna Kendrick gave a seemingly cryptic response during a red-carpet interview.
When asked about reuniting with Lively, Kendrick simply replied, "Oh, you know," in a video shared by Entertainment Tonight.
In another interview clip shared by Variety, Kendrick was asked about the film’s release amid ongoing Hollywood drama, seemingly referencing Lively’s legal battle with her former 'It Ends With Us co-star' Justin Baldoni.
Kendrick jokingly replied, "Why, what happened? I did ayahuasca, and the last year of my life is just gone."
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Blake Lively’s legal battle with Justin Baldoni adds to the drama
Adding to the ongoing speculation, Blake Lively has been embroiled in a lawsuit against Justin Baldoni and film producer Jamey Heath, alleging harassment, retaliation, and emotional distress.
She first filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department before escalating the case to federal court in December 2024.
In response, Baldoni hit back with a $400 million lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of civil extortion and defamation.
His legal team released a website with a detailed timeline of events and unedited footage from the set of 'It Ends With Us'.
Following its release, Lively’s legal team sought a gag order against Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, arguing that his public statements could taint the jury pool.
Court documents state, "His conduct threatens to, and will, materially prejudice both the Lively Case and the Wayfarer Case by tainting the jury pool, because his statements are deliberately aimed at undermining the ‘character, credibility, [and] reputation’ of numerous relevant parties."
Baldoni’s attorneys fired back, calling the gag order request an "intimidation tactic" and "tactical gamesmanship," according to Fox News.
A judge ultimately ruled that both sides must adhere to the New York Rules of Professional Conduct, restricting public statements that could influence a jury.
