Anna Kendrick seemingly shaded Blake Lively’s ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni as she evaded a question during the SXSW Film Festival in Austin on Friday, DailyMail reports.
According to the report by DailyMail, the Pitch Perfect star, 39 – who is rumored to have a ‘secret feud’ with the Gossip Girl actress – attended the event along with Lively to promote their Amazon Prime Video sequel Another Simple Favor.
Blake is currently amidst an ongoing and publicized legal battle with her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni – which began when she sued him for sexual assault and launching a smear campaign against her late last year in December.
And it was previously reported that Anna Kendrick is ‘upset’ the lawsuit is overshadowing their upcoming sequel.
While on the red carpet with Variety, Anna Kendrick shared a vague response when questioned about how the movie has been affected by ‘everything going on in the world.’
‘Why, what happened? I did ayahuasca and the last year of my life is just gone,’ the star replied, referencing the plant-based psychedelic.
The actress then continued, ‘But I’ve heard the movie is amazing,’ before walking away.
Anna and Blake were spotted at the premiere of Another Simple Favor at the festival – but notably did not take any photos of just the two of them.
At one point, the two stars paused for a few photos together – as director Paul Feig stood in between the pair.
The filmmaker – who is known for working on other projects such as Bridesmaids – doubled down on his support to Blake amid her legal battle.
During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Feig expressed: ‘Blake’s awesome. I love Blake. I love working with Anna, I love working with Blake, and that’s all I can say. She is a great collaborator. I just love working with her.’
He further reflected on working with both Lively and Kendrick once again following the 2018 film A Simple Favor and gushed to People that it was ‘too much fun.’
Paul added, ‘I mean, I had such a great experience on the first one. It always kind of stuck with me. God, I love working with the two of them, as well as the rest of the cast.’ as the rest of the cast.’
During the festivities, Anna also offered a very awkward response when questioned about working with Lively once again on their sequel.
In a now-viral video shared to X, Kendrick was filmed cheerfully greeting fans outside of the event.
At one point, one asked the actress, ‘What does it mean to be working with Blake again?
Anna Kendrick simply replied with, ‘Oh, you know…,’ and began to take selfies with others instead of further elaborating on the answer – which further fueled speculation of a feud between the two stars.
Blake was also seen mingling with fans and signing autographs in a separate video on X when she was asked a similar question – but her response was in stark contrast to Kendrick’s.
‘Blake, what does it mean to be back with Anna?’ a fan asked as the actress was strolling by.
‘Oh, it’s the best! I’m so happy,’ the star gushed before being guided to take additional photos during the festivities.
Anna Kendrick and Blake reunited for the anticipated sequel which is slated to officially release later this year on May 1 – and is the sequel to the 2018 movie A Simple Favor.
Other cast members include Henry Golding, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Michele Morrone, Allison Janey and Elena Sofia Ricci.
The premise, ‘Follows Stephanie Smothers (Kendrick) and Emily Nelson (Lively) as they head to the beautiful island of Capri, Italy, for Emily’s extravagant wedding to a rich Italian businessman,’ per IMDB.
Along with Anna and Blake posing for photos on the red carpet – with director Paul Feig standing between them – the two stars also spoke on stage during the screening.
Body language expert Judi James told DailyMail.com that Feig ‘seems to have been enlisted as a handy “air bag” buffer between them.’
She added that, ‘Their “red carpet” smiles do look rather tempered or subdued here, Blake’s lips are closed while Anna’s smile lacks the traits of real joy, like rounded cheeks or eye crinkling.’
James continued, ‘Blake is performing an eye-smile but Anna’s “smile” doesn’t seem to have reached her eyes.
‘Blake’s body pose looks relaxed and has amicable signals, with the way her pelvis is partly turned in towards the group and the way her legs are crossed inward towards the group too.’
Judi further explained, ‘Anna looks less assured’ in the red carpet photo, ‘with her right hand hanging in front of her torso in a partial barrier gesture.’
And while onstage inside the theater, the pair could be seen awkwardly standing next to each other as they discussed their movie.
In a video shared by Variety, Lively was filmed talking about Another Simple Favor with Anna only glancing over at her co-star only once throughout the clip.
Their joint appearance on Friday at the premiere comes amid rumors of a ‘secret feud’ between the pair. It was previously reported that Kendrick is less than thrilled that Blake’s legal drama with Justin Baldoni is overshadowing her film Another Simple Favor with the actress.
A source told People last month, ‘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.’
They further explained that the Pitch Perfect star is ‘not used to being caught up in any drama.’
However another insider shared, ‘The film is in the early stages of planning what the press will look like, and Blake and Anna will be doing some things together.’
A separate source explained to DailyMail, ‘These movies are basically all Anna and Blake have in common. They have a working relationship, by no means a close friendship or bond.
‘Last-minute talks are underway with execs as Anna would prefer to distance herself from Blake going forward.’
The insider added, ‘It was originally planned that the two would do much of the promotion together. That’s what the studio requested, and Anna and Blake agreed to it. But Anna could go it alone over fears she will get caught up in the drama.’
Anna Kendrick and Blake are also rumored to have clashed over their billing on the sequel and Lively failing to address the effect of her lawsuit on the movie.
Also last month, a source told DailyMail.com, ‘There is a gigantic pink elephant in the room that no one is acknowledging.
‘The backlash to initial promo has been brutal. There are people protesting and refusing to see it.’
The insider continued, ‘Blake has not addressed this. She has not called the cast to apologize. She has not done anything like that. She has stayed quiet and hidden away. She owes Anna an apology. She owes them all an apology.
Their joint appearance on Friday at the premiere comes amid rumors of a ‘secret feud’ between the pair.
It was previously reported that Kendrick is less than thrilled that Blake’s legal drama with Justin Baldoni is overshadowing her film Another Simple Favor with the actress.
A source told People last month, ‘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.’
They further explained that the Pitch Perfect star is ‘not used to being caught up in any drama.’
However another insider shared, ‘The film is in the early stages of planning what press will look like, and Blake and Anna will be doing some things together.’
A separate source explained to DailyMail.com, ‘These movies are basically all Anna and Blake have in common. They have a working relationship, by no means a close friendship or bond.
Last-minute talks are underway with execs as Anna would prefer to distance herself from Blake going forward.’
The insider added, ‘It was originally planned that the two would do much of the promotion together. That’s what the studio requested, and Anna and Blake agreed to it. But Anna could go it alone over fears she will get caught up in the drama.’
Anna and Blake are also rumored to have clashed over their billing on the sequel and Lively failing to address the effect of her lawsuit on the movie.
Also last month, a source told DailyMail, ‘There is a gigantic pink elephant in the room that no one is acknowledging.
‘The backlash to the initial promo has been brutal. There are people protesting and refusing to see it.’
The insider continued, ‘Blake has not addressed this. She has not called the cast to apologize. She has not done anything like that. She has stayed quiet and hidden away. She owes Anna an apology. She owes them all an apology.