Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick: Friends or Foes?

The internet was abuzz with rumors about tension between Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick during the premiere of "Another Simple Favor" at SXSW. A YouTuber named Melanie King sparked the controversy by claiming that Lively looked "terrified" and Kendrick appeared "pissed" during the event. The rumor mill went into overdrive when King also suggested that Kendrick might not want to work with Lively again. This speculation was quickly shot down by the film's director, Paul Feig, who took to social media to defend the actresses. Feig's response was straightforward: "You're wrong. " He didn't mince words, directly addressing the YouTuber's claims. The director's defense came after a reporter from "Entertainment Tonight" asked Kendrick about working with Lively again. Kendrick's response was brief and somewhat ambiguous. She simply said, "Oh, you know. . . " This led to more speculation about the actresses' relationship. Lively, on the other hand, had nothing but praise for her co-star. When asked the same question, she enthusiastically said, "It's the best! I'm so happy to be here. " This positive sentiment was echoed during a Q&A session where Lively described working with Kendrick again as "amazing. " Despite the online chatter, the two actresses seemed to put on a united front at the premiere. They posed for photos together on the red carpet, with Lively wearing a striking strapless latex dress and Kendrick in a black pantsuit with a plunging corset. Inside the theater, they sat in separate rows but reunited on stage for the Q&A. The drama surrounding Lively and Kendrick's alleged discomfort comes at a sensitive time. Just a few months prior, Lively had filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against her "It Ends with Us" director, Justin Baldoni. Baldoni has denied all allegations and has even filed a $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist, Leslie Sloane. The legal battle is set to continue with a potential trial date in March 2026.