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Blake Lively & Anna Kendrick’s Tense London Encounter: Simple Favor Sequel Drama Heats Up

BBG News

On Tuesday, at a London photocall for “Another Simple Favor,” I found myself caught up in an unexpected, slightly awkward moment with the incredible Anna Kendrick. After a series of challenging media interviews, this lighthearted encounter was a welcome change!

At the Corinthia Hotel, it seemed like there was an intense conversation occurring between them, as they were busy publicizing their upcoming movie, set to premiere on Prime Video on May 1.

In the photo shoot, Blake, who is 37 years old, donned a black cardigan adorned with gold accents. To complete her outfit, she wore dark tights and knee-high black boots.

She carried a sleek black-and-gold Chanel handbag, complementing it with various golden jewelry pieces. Her beautiful long blonde hair flowed freely.

39-year-old co-actress Anna donned a vibrant red waistcoat paired with golden trousers. She accessorized the ensemble with a coordinating miniskirt and added a touch of glamour with some shiny gold high heels.

Together with Paul Feig, Laura Fischer, and Henry Golding, the duo struck a pose for photographs near the iconic London Eye.

News about a new project arises amidst speculations of potential friction between Blake, previously embroiled in a legal dispute with his It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni, and Anna, prior to the anticipated release of the A Simple Favor sequel.

The movie had its premiere at South By Southwest a month ago, but it was clouded by controversy. There were incidents like a protester waving a sign reading “Justice for Justin Baldoni, Blake lied” and an apparent frosty encounter between Anna.

In spite of all the excitement or drama, the actor from Gossip Girl enthusiastically praised the event, describing it as similar to attending a live rock concert, in a post on Instagram.

Attending the premiere of ‘@asimplefavor’ at SXSW was more electrifying than a rock concert, and I owe it all to the incredible audience. Texas truly knows how to put on a show.

Creating this film itself felt like a present, every aspect of it. Sharing it with all of you and receiving your affection in return has been an incredible experience. Thanks for welcoming us, Austin.

In March, allegations arose that Blake had artificially inflated the audience during the premiere, following her appearance in a selfie alongside Laurie Feig, who is married to the director of Another Simple Favor, Paul.

In some instances, people who were criticizing the star suspected that Laurie might have been feigning fandom from the audience, even though she is married to the movie’s director, based on the photos they saw.

As a die-hard admirer, I can’t help but wonder: “What’s the story behind the director’s spouse, seemingly disguised as a fan, lurking in the crowd, eagerly waiting for a chance to snap a selfie with Blake on the red carpet during Another Simple Favor premiere?” This behavior strikes me as rather peculiar and raises my suspicions.

The duo are back together for the eagerly awaited movie that chronicles Stephanie Smothers, played by Anna, and Emily Nelson, portrayed by Blake, as they jet off to the picturesque island of Capri, Italy, for Emily’s lavish wedding to a wealthy Italian entrepreneur, according to IMDb.

There has been talk about an unspoken conflict between the main actors following their reunion on set, which marks five years since the initial film was released.

Notice how automated PR responders often comment with phrases like “this is standard practice”, “embedded prejudice”, or “what’s your concern?” instead.

The premiere also started off on the wrong foot, as Blake was greeted by a protestor.

Highlighting the ongoing PR predicament of “It Ends With Us,” a woman was spotted donning a T-shirt with the statement ‘Blake lied’ and carrying a placard reading ‘Justice for Justin Baldoni. Blake lied,’ while the actor was strolling on the red carpet in close proximity.

Additionally, things became even more challenging when Blake’s fellow actor, Anna, experienced an uncomfortable moment during a question about collaborating with her on the movie.

Anna mysteriously responded, “I’m quite familiar,” on the red carpet when questioned about collaborating with Blake once more.

Apart from a single photo with their director, there were no individual or joint photos of Blake and Anna striking poses together.

Earlier reports indicated that Anna appeared to be displeased because her co-star’s court case has been drawing more attention than the movie they are working on together.

At the gathering, celebrities were seen somewhat uncomfortable standing beside one another. Notably, Anna kept her head lowered while listening attentively to the actress famed for her role on Gossip Girl.

Blake enthusiastically detailed the process of making the movie in Capri, Italy, while her fellow worker looked on casually and briefly caught sight of it once, as depicted in a clip posted by Variety.

Speaking with Variety, Anna offered a somewhat ambiguous explanation regarding the impact of global events on the film.

The celebrity responded, “What transpired? I took ayahuasca, a plant-derived psychedelic, and it seems like the past year of my life has vanished.

The actress then continued, ‘But I’ve heard the movie is amazing,’ before walking away. 

In March, Blake and Anna were spotted together on the red carpet, yet director Paul Feig was positioned deliberately between them during photo opportunities.

After our collaboration on “A Simple Favor” in 2018, I found myself reminiscing about teaming up with these stellar talents once more. And let me tell you, working alongside them again was an absolute joy – truly too much fun!

Meanwhile a fan asked the Gossip Girl star: ‘Blake, what does it mean to be back with Anna?’

Wow, this is fantastic!” she exclaimed with delight, continuing to be led for more pictures amidst the celebrations.

According to a source who spoke to People last month, the actress has been distressed by the comments on Instagram, particularly those suggesting that fans are choosing not to watch the movie because they no longer wish to support Blake.

They further explained that the Pitch Perfect star is ‘not used to being caught up in any drama’.

According to a different source, the movie’s publicity strategy is still being developed, and it appears that Blake and Anna may collaborate on certain aspects.

‘In essence, these films are the only thing they share. Their connection is professional, not personal; it’s not as if they are close friends or share a deep bond.’

Discussions are happening at the last moment with executives, since Anna prefers to maintain a separation from Blake in the future.

As a die-hard fan, I’ve heard whispers from within the studio circles. Originally, they wanted the two stars, my beloved Anna and the fabulous Blake, to jointly promote their upcoming project. The studio asked for this collaboration, and both agreed, seeing eye to eye. However, it seems that Anna might choose to go solo due to concerns that she could get entangled in the inevitable drama that often follows such high-profile partnerships.

It’s whispered that Anna and Blake had disagreements concerning their compensation for the sequel, as well as the impact of Lively’s lawsuit on the film, which she reportedly did not acknowledge directly.

Regarding who appeared first in the credits for the initial movie, one source stated, ‘Anna was given top credit over Blake in the original film. She assumed this would also be the case now. However, Blake disagreed with this notion.’

In my role as a lifestyle advisor, I can tell you that I persistently advocated for myself to secure the leading role, despite initial resistance from another actress who was reluctant to yield to Blake’s requests. After several grueling weeks of discussion and compromise, an agreement was reached between the two of us.

They decided on a system where Anna’s name would appear first, followed by Blake’s name directly above hers but aligned to the right. This method is known as joint or shared billing in their line of work.

Blake Lively persists in criticizing Justin Baldoni, the director of “It Ends With Us,” as their ongoing legal dispute intensifies.

Since December 2024, there has been an ongoing legal dispute between Lively and Baldoni, as she claimed he sexually harassed her and initiated a malicious campaign to tarnish her reputation.

In response, he initiated a lawsuit for defamation amounting to approximately four hundred million dollars, naming Emily Blunt (Lively), her spouse Ryan Reynolds, and Leslie Sloane, who has been Lively’s long-term publicist, as defendants.

As a dedicated admirer, I couldn’t help but join the fray when Baldoni took legal action against The New York Times over their coverage of Lively’s accusations. Both parties have firmly refuted the charges levied against them in this case.

Meanwhile, Lively and Reynolds are trying to dismiss Baldoni’s counter-lawsuit, but Baldoni’s lawyers are firing back with additional allegations against the 41-year-old actor.

On Thursday, Lively, aged 37, claimed that Baldoni and his lawyers were employing aggressive litigation strategies (often referred to as ‘scorched earth’) aimed at silencing individuals who had alleged sexual harassment against them.

According to statements made to Us Weekly, Lively’s legal team asserted that Baldoni aims to undermine California laws established to shield victims from being financially ruined through lawsuits filed by their assailants.

In my perspective as a lifestyle advocate, I’ve noticed a shift in Mr. Baldoni’s journey from cultivating a brand that empowers and uplifts women, to becoming a figure spearheading the challenge against laws designed to safeguard women who bravely disclose experiences related to sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination. This transition, as expressed by Lively’s team in their statement, is quite striking.

In simpler terms, the California Assembly Bill 933 (AB 933) was passed to prevent individuals who commit sexual harassment from using defamation lawsuits as a means of retaliating against their accusers by overwhelming them with legal actions.

Team Lively went on to say, ‘A harsh message from scorched-earth litigation tells victims, either keep quiet or face annihilation.’

In my professional capacity, I’d like to bring up a point regarding the response brief we submitted on Thursday, in continuation of my efforts to have Mr. Baldoni’s lawsuit against Lively dismissed. This is an update on the case as it unfolds.

In the brief submitted by Ms. Lively today, it is clear that the Wayfarer Parties’ attempt to retaliate against her for speaking up about the sexual harassment she endured on set has not only fallen flat but also leaves them vulnerable to significant financial losses.

As a lifestyle advisor, I want to assure anyone who may find themselves in distress that you’re never alone. Your voice matters, and it’s crucial not to remain silent. Remember, the law stands as your ally, ready to support and protect you.

In Thursday’s response document, as reported by Us Weekly, Lively’s legal team argued that Baldoni and the ‘Wayfarer Parties’ have made an attempt to file a defamation lawsuit against Ms. Lively which is either too old (statute of limitations) or already addressed in her previous complaints, which they acknowledge cannot support any viable claims.

Recently, Lively has issued a new statement following reports from DailyMail.com suggesting that she is now quietly grappling with feelings of ‘regret’ stemming from her ongoing legal dispute with Baldoni in private.

A week ago, Justin alleged that Blake had orchestrated a public relations trick aimed at damaging him, stating it was intentionally planned to tarnish the reputations and professional standing of the Wayfarer group, following her move to drop his $400 million lawsuit on March 20th.

In a recent document, Baldoni expressed that he is utilizing his First Amendment freedom of speech to ask the court to remove any false and damaging accusations against him.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but share my outrage over Justin Baldoni’s recent stance. According to TMZ, his legal team stated last Friday that this advocate for the voiceless seemingly supports the idea that the freedom of speech for victims of sexual assault and harassment should be sacrificed in favor of allowing perpetrators to sue their accusers into nonexistence. Quite a shocking flipside from the man we thought was standing on the side of justice, isn’t it?

Her legal team additionally clarified that Baldoni and attorney Bryan Freedman aim to ‘eliminate’ a law that shields victims, thereby potentially silencing others who might wish to speak up in the future.

This complex statement shows that Miss Lively and her team are feeling threatened and are yet again resorting to making provocative statements in an attempt to divert attention from the genuine details.

It seems quite obvious that they aim to redirect public focus away from the proof – the receipts, videos, and further evidence – which unequivocally demonstrates the absence of any sexual harassment allegations.

It’s intriguing to note that Miss Lively and her team have recently expressed strong feelings regarding the long-fought rights of survivors, a subject they avoided throughout their film promotion. This might come as a surprise.

Instead, she primarily concentrated on her line of hair care and liquor items, which sparked the organic opposition she faced. She doesn’t require an investigation to discover who slandered her; simply looking in a mirror would suffice.

Justin’s legal representative has also informed TMZ that they are not able to be silenced by Ms. Lively or her influential Hollywood friends, as they continue to assert their constitutional privilege to seek judicial intervention to vindicate their names against her allegedly false and damaging accusations.

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2025-04-15 14:20

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