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As Another Simple Favor gears up for its premiere, speculation about a supposed rift between stars Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively has resurfaced. However, multiple sources confirm that there is no bad blood between the two actresses.
The upcoming sequel to the 2018 thriller will debut at the SXSW festival on March 7 before streaming on Prime Video on May 1. But when the film's first poster was unveiled on social media, it was met with controversy. Many users shifted focus from the film to Lively's legal dispute with It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni, whom she accused of sexual harassment and retaliation—allegations he denies. Others questioned why Lively's name appeared before Kendrick's on the poster.
A source close to Kendrick, 39, revealed that she was troubled by the negative response. "The comments on Instagram have upset her, especially the ones saying fans are now refusing to watch the movie because they don't want to support Blake," the insider stated.
Kendrick and Lively, 37, portray frenemies Stephanie and Emily in the franchise, but rumors of behind-the-scenes tension between them date back to the original film's release. Old interviews resurfaced, fueling further speculation about an off-screen fallout. However, another source firmly dismissed these claims, saying, "There really is no drama or rift."
Despite the online discourse, the two stars are expected to participate in joint promotional activities. "The film is in the early stages of planning what press will look like, and Blake and Anna will be doing some things together," an insider confirmed.
While promoting her directorial debut Woman of the Hour last year, Kendrick spoke warmly about working with Lively again. "She lives on the East Coast, I live on the West Coast, so we don't get to see each other often. But it was lovely, and I think that those characters have such weird chemistry that it's so fun to just get the gang back together," she told PEOPLE in October 2024.
Director Paul Feig, who returns for the sequel, has also defended Lively in light of recent criticism. Replying to a social media comment under the film's poster, he wrote, "Blake has been nothing but supportive and a dream to work with. She is the best and an amazing collaborator and I'm her biggest fan."
In a separate post, Feig further praised the upcoming film, saying, "The new movie is awesome, and Blake and Anna turn in amazing performances. I can't wait for you all to see it."
