From Friends to Friction? A Flowchart of Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively’s Relationship

Hollywood friendships often resemble rollercoaster rides, with thrilling highs, unexpected drops, and loop-de-loops of drama that leave spectators dizzy with speculation. Enter the curious case of Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively

, whose relationship has become Tinseltown’s favorite psychological thriller. One moment, they are dazzling as on-screen frenemies; the next, rumor mills churn with whispers of backstage coldness. Like an Alfred Hitchcock plot twist, nothing is quite as it appears in this celebrity friendship saga that keeps fans perpetually guessing: allies or adversaries?

As whispers of backstage tension grow louder, it is hard not to wonder if one innocent comment could be the spark that ignited a feud no one saw coming.

Anna Kendrick’s Taylor Swift comparison sparked tension

The friendship plot thickened back in 2016 when

Anna Kendrick casually tossed Taylor Swift into the conversation with Net-A-Porter

, claiming she’d be “terrible

” at maintaining Taylor Swift’s

pristine public persona.

Kendrick embraced her snarkier, rough-around-the-edges authenticity instead of Swift’s picture-perfect approach. Little did she know, she would potentially poke a beehive with a stick! Given Blake Lively’s ride-or-die friendship with Swift, they are practically sisterhood-of-the-traveling-pants close, this commentary might have stirred the first ripples in otherwise calm waters between the co-stars.

While Anna Kendrick’s comment may have lit the fuse, things on set were reportedly just as dramatic, allegations of animosity began to surface.

A crew member claimed there was hate on set

Whispers from the 2018 A Simple Favor 

set painted a picture worthy of the film’s twisted plot; an anonymous crew member dropped the bombshell that the actresses “hated each other”

on The Celebrity Memoir Book Club

podcast

with such intensity that studio executives reportedly staged an intervention for public harmony. Talk about method acting for frenemies! Yet both stars and their inner circles have repeatedly swatted these claims away like pesky Hollywood flies. Sources insist any perceived frost between them was simply misinterpreted chemistry, not the iceberg that could sink their professional Titanic.

But while rumors continued to swirl, the press tour brought another round of drama, especially with one memorable response from Anna Kendrick.

The press tour shade rumors

The rumor volcano erupted again during the Another Simple Favor 

press circuit when Anna Kendrick’s tepid “Oh, you know…,

” response to working with Blake Lively landed like a conversational hand grenade.

This cryptic verbal shrug contrasted dramatically with Lively’s enthusiastic praise, sending gossip detectives into overdrive. However, like magicians explaining away their illusions, both actresses’ representatives quickly assured fans there was no rabbit of resentment hiding in their hat of collaboration. 

As the press tour wound down, new rumors emerged, suggesting the sequel might not even see the light of day because of the alleged drama.

Paul Feig denied rumors of sequel cancellation

January 2025 brought a fresh tsunami of speculation: was Another Simple Favor

 shelved because Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively were engaging in their own real-life psychological thriller behind the scenes? Director Paul Feig swooped in like Hollywood’s caped crusader, declaring these rumors not at all true. The film was not canceled but merely marinating in post-production goodness, with a spring or summer release still on the menu.

Feig praised his leading ladies’ performances with the enthusiasm of a proud papa bear defending his cubs.

As rumors swirl and speculation intensifies, the truth remains refreshingly simple: no drama, just two professionals who know how to keep things cool while the gossip heats up.

Sources say no drama between the stars

While gossip mills grind overtime, manufacturing tension between the actresses, insiders consistently serve reality checks hotter than fresh gossip. Anna Kendrick’s confidant explained that drama follows Kendrick like kale follows a cheeseburger, rarely and unwillingly. Another source emphatically told PEOPLE

that there is “really no drama or rift

,”

describing them as friendly coworkers who get along swimmingly in Hollywood’s shark-infested waters. Director Paul Feig continued his role as rumor exterminator, squashing speculation with industrial-strength determination. 

But what do the stars themselves say about their professional dynamic? The answer might surprise you.

The dynamic duo spoke out

Before Another Simple Favor 

could spill its secrets onto screens, the actresses addressed their working relationship with contrasting communication styles worthy of their on-screen characters. Blake Lively bubbled with enthusiasm, declaring their reunion “the best

” to Entertainment Tonight and crowning Emily her favorite character,

practically skipping through verbal confetti. Anna Kendrick responded to reunion questions with her trademark dry wit, saying, “Oh, you know

,” before eventually

describing the experience as “lovely

” to PEOPLE

and explaining that their limited contact was due to geographical separation, not emotional distance.

While Blake Lively’s enthusiasm sparkled and Anna Kendrick’s dry humor kept it cool, director Paul Feig was ready to set the record straight again, shutting down feud rumors with the force of a blockbuster twist.

Paul Feig addresses feud claims again

At SXSW’s red carpet, Paul Feig transformed into Hollywood’s most determined myth-buster, armed with direct denials sharper than Emily’s stilettos. When confronted with viral claims that Anna Kendrick was “pissed

” and refusing future Blake Lively collaborations, Feig delivered a concise verbal smackdown: “Um… you’re wrong

.” His frustration over Lively’s court troubles

and criticism only underscored his unwavering support for his star-studded team.

Beyond the glittering facade of Hollywood gossip lies a refreshingly ordinary truth, two professionals who respect each other’s craft without a dramatic subplot. The public’s insatiable hunger for celebrity conflict transforms normal workplace dynamics into exaggerated battlefields of emotion. Both actresses continue their successful trajectories while Another Simple Favor

 has already been released

, and fans can enjoy it now. Perhaps the real simple favor would be accepting that not every Hollywood partnership needs dramatic tension to be interesting; sometimes, brilliant performances and mutual respect create all the sparkle a story needs.

Read More: Blake Lively Stuns Alongside Ryan Reynolds at ‘Another Simple Favor’ NYC Premiere

What are your thoughts on Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick’s feud? Share what you think in the comments below.

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