Anne Kendrick skillfully sidestepped a question about her co-star Blake Lively’s ongoing legal dispute with Justin Baldoni during the premiere of Another Simple Favor at the 2025 SXSW Film & Festival on March 7th.
When a Variety reporter asked the Pitch Perfect star how she felt about the film being impacted by external events, Anne Kendrick responded with humor and deflection.
“Why, what happened?” Anne Kendrick replied playfully, before adding, “I did Ayahuasca in the last year of my life is just gone, but I’ve heard the movie is amazing.”
Anne Kendrick’s remarks came just as Lively attended her first major movie premiere since the start of her high-profile lawsuit against her It Ends with Us director and co-star Baldoni. The Gossip Girl alum filed a lawsuit against Baldoni in December, accusing him and others of sexual harassment and orchestrating a retaliatory smear campaign—allegations Baldoni has denied. In response, Baldoni countersued Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist in January, alleging defamation and extortion.
Since the legal battle began, Lively has kept a low profile, making only a handful of public appearances, including the star-studded Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary special. Now, she reunites with Anne Kendrick and director Paul Feig at SXSW, marking their first collaboration since the 2018 film A Simple Favor.
The much-anticipated sequel, Another Simple Favor, continues the story of Stephanie (Anne Kendrick) and Emily (Lively) as they embark on a thrilling journey to the picturesque island of Capri, Italy. The plot revolves around Emily’s extravagant wedding to a wealthy Italian businessman, but as expected, unexpected twists and intrigue follow.
Anne Kendrick and Lively’s on-screen chemistry has been a major draw for audiences, and fans are eager to see how their characters’ dynamic evolves in this sequel. Another Simple Favor officially premiered on March 7th, and viewers who missed its theatrical release can catch it on Prime Video starting May 1st.
Despite the swirling controversy surrounding her co-star, Anne Kendrick remains focused on the film, skillfully keeping the conversation centered on her work rather than the legal drama unfolding behind the scenes.