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Anna Kendrick Avoids Question on Blake Lively’s Legal Issues

At the premiere of Another Simple Favor during the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival on March 7, actress Anna Kendrick refrained from addressing her co-star Blake Lively’s ongoing legal dispute with director Justin Baldoni.

During a red carpet interview, a reporter from Variety inquired about the perceived impacts of current events on the film. Kendrick displayed a confused expression and asked, “Why, what happened?”

She further remarked, “I did Ayahuasca in the last year of my life is just gone, but I’ve heard the movie is amazing.”

This exchange coincides with Lively’s return to public events following a series of legal challenges. Lively, who is 37, and her It Ends with Us co-star Baldoni, aged 41, are engulfed in a high-profile legal battle. Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni in December, alleging sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign. Baldoni has denied these allegations and responded with a countersuit in January against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist, claiming defamation and extortion.

Since the onset of these legal proceedings, Lively has been relatively reclusive, making limited public appearances, though she did attend Saturday Night Live‘s celebration of its 50th anniversary on February 16.

She reunited with Kendrick and director Paul Feig at SXSW, marking a return to a collaborative spirit after their work together in the 2018 film A Simple Favor.

The new film revolves around characters Stephanie (Kendrick) and Emily (Lively) as they journey to Capri, Italy, for an extravagant wedding. The plot promises a blend of glamour and intrigue, revealing that among the wedding guests, “murder and betrayal” will play pivotal roles.

Feig shared his excitement about reuniting with the actresses, stating, “I had such a great experience on the first one. It always kind of stuck with me. God, I love working with the two of them, as well as the rest of the cast.”

Following the release of the film’s first poster on February 4, many comments on social media reflected concerns over Lively and Baldoni’s legal battles. Some fans also questioned the poster’s layout, which places Lively’s name above Kendrick’s.

A source revealed to PEOPLE that Kendrick is uncomfortable with the drama circulating online, noting that some comments have upset her, particularly assertions that fans might boycott the film due to the legal issues surrounding Lively.

However, another source emphasized that there are no tensions between Kendrick and Lively. “There really is no drama or rift,” the insider affirmed, further clarifying that both actresses will participate in upcoming promotional activities together.

Another Simple Favor is set to begin streaming on Prime Video on May 1.

Source
people.com