Anna Kendrick Exposes Blake Lively: Behind-the-Scenes Bullying, Crew Quitting, and the Ugly Feud That Won’t Die

In Hollywood, feuds come and go. Co-stars clash, egos flare, and most of the time, everyone pastes on a smile for the cameras until the dust settles. But every once in a while, a celebrity rift breaks the surface in a way that simply can’t be ignored—and that’s exactly what’s happening between Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively.

Anna has just become the latest A-lister to publicly call out Blake for her alleged “mean girl” behavior, and the details are damning. According to Anna, Blake didn’t just make filming miserable for her—she allegedly bullied crew members so badly that people quit the production of A Simple Favor. With the sequel, Another Simple Favor, gearing up for release, this resurfaced feud threatens to overshadow the movie itself. And if Anna’s words are to be believed, Blake might have done far more damage than anyone realized.

The Roots of the Feud

It all started back in 2018 when A Simple Favor paired Kendrick and Lively in what seemed like the perfect on-screen duo: Anna as the quirky, insecure Stephanie and Blake as the enigmatic, confident Emily. The thriller was a surprise hit, and fans adored the dynamic between the two actresses. On the surface, they appeared to enjoy a cheeky, playful camaraderie during press tours. But behind closed doors, the reality was far from perfect.

Rumors swirled even then that the actresses didn’t “vibe” off camera. Blake, known for her effortless glamour and reputation as a Hollywood fashion icon, allegedly clashed with Anna’s more grounded, no-nonsense energy. The tension boiled over into their working relationship, with insiders later revealing that Lionsgate had to step in and warn them to “play nice” during promotional interviews because their dislike was becoming obvious.

The Muted Truth

Anna recently reignited speculation by admitting she has “muted” people on Instagram and Twitter—“a couple people,” in her words. Fans immediately connected the dots back to Blake. Why? Because this wasn’t just casual shade. Anna’s comments came during a press interaction when she was asked what it meant to work with Blake again. Her reaction said it all.

“What does it mean to be working with Blake again?” a fan asked. Anna’s flat, sarcastic tone made her feelings crystal clear: “Oh my God, yeah, that woman…” She didn’t even bother to mask her disdain. Compare that to Blake’s sugary response when asked the same question—“It’s the best, I’m so happy”—and the disconnect is striking.

One woman was clearly being real. The other? Fans say she sounded fake.

Diva Behavior and Crew Quitting

So what exactly went down on set? According to Anna, Blake’s so-called “diva behavior” wasn’t just limited to her co-stars. Assistant director Barbara Seaman added fuel to the fire when she dropped a bombshell in Henry Golding’s Instagram comments: she actually quit the first film because of Blake’s treatment.

“I worked with you on the first one,” Seaman wrote. “My experience with everyone was absolutely amazing—except for a certain someone who is the reason I quit being an AD.”

Though she deleted the comment, screenshots live forever. Later, Seaman elaborated, saying Blake was “cruel to many,” leaving her in tears and feeling defeated after countless nights of trying—and failing—to please someone “who is never pleased.”

That testimony lines up with Anna’s claim that Blake’s “mean girl energy” was so toxic that it caused crew members to walk away. If true, it paints a disturbing picture of what it’s like behind the polished glamour of a Blake Lively movie set.

The Battle for Billing

One of the ugliest aspects of the feud centers on Hollywood’s oldest battlefield: billing. In the original A Simple Favor, Anna was given top billing over Blake. That was expected, since Anna’s quirky single mom character was the audience’s entry point into the story. But for the sequel, sources say Blake fought tooth and nail to secure first billing.

After weeks of negotiations, a compromise was struck: Anna’s name would appear first, but Blake’s would float slightly higher on the right-hand side of posters. In Hollywood, such “equal billing” arrangements are common—but fans noticed that Blake’s name being positioned physically higher was no accident. Many read it as a subtle power move, a flex to signal dominance.

For Anna, who reportedly bristled at Blake’s attempts to overshadow her, this only deepened the rift. As one insider put it: “When you start coming for someone’s bag in Hollywood, that’s war.”

Jealousy, Shady Remarks, and Quiet Rivalry

Part of the animosity may stem from jealousy. In an interview with BuzzFeed, Blake admitted feeling stung when Anna was given an easier filming schedule one day. While Blake was allowed to come in late after a long shoot, Anna had been on set for hours already. “That was the day I decided I hate you,” Anna joked in response. But fans now think it wasn’t entirely a joke.

Other reports suggest Blake frequently made backhanded comments and snide remarks toward Anna, while Anna retaliated with subtle digs designed to get under Blake’s skin. Their so-called playful banter during press tours—like Anna joking about muting Blake on Instagram—may have been far closer to reality than anyone realized.

The Justin Baldoni Factor

If all that weren’t enough, Blake’s ongoing drama with director Justin Baldoni has thrown gasoline on the fire. The two are reportedly clashing behind the scenes of another project, and fans are reading Anna’s recent public statements as thinly veiled support for Baldoni.

At the British Academy Film Awards, Anna made a pointed comment about “respect in the industry,” praising directors and crew for their exhausting work and emphasizing the importance of maintaining dignity on set. To casual viewers, it was just an elegant, diplomatic remark. But for fans aware of the Blake feud, it was a not-so-subtle shot at her former co-star.

Blake’s Other Controversies

Anna’s frustration may also be fueled by the collateral damage Blake brings with her. Beyond the feud, Blake’s reputation has taken hit after hit in recent years. Fans continue to drag her for marrying Ryan Reynolds at a plantation, criticize her for an alleged fascination with racially insensitive aesthetics, and now, with the Baldoni drama, many are calling for boycotts of her films.

That’s bad news for Anna, who worked hard on Another Simple Favor. While Blake’s baggage threatens to overshadow the film, Anna risks being “collateral damage.” As one source put it, “There’s a gigantic pink elephant in the room that no one is acknowledging.”

What Happens Next?

Executives are now scrambling. The original plan was for Anna and Blake to promote the film together, but Anna has reportedly requested to distance herself from Blake and handle press alone. The fear? Every interview will turn into a Blake Lively Q&A session, leaving Anna forced to dodge questions about lawsuits, diva behavior, and feuds instead of focusing on the movie itself.

For her part, Blake is contractually obligated to promote the film, but insiders say she’s been given freedom to decide how much involvement she wants. With fan protests and an icy co-star relationship looming over the press tour, this is shaping up to be one of the messiest promotional campaigns in recent memory.

Final Thoughts

Hollywood thrives on drama, but the Anna Kendrick–Blake Lively feud goes deeper than most. This isn’t just a catty rivalry or a clash of personalities—it’s a story of alleged bullying, power struggles, and crew members leaving a set in tears.

Anna Kendrick has built her brand on honesty and humor, rarely mincing words or playing into fake Hollywood niceties. Her willingness to finally open up about what happened on A Simple Favor suggests she’s no longer willing to bite her tongue, even if it costs her professionally. Meanwhile, Blake Lively’s carefully curated image as a glamorous star and doting wife is under heavy fire, not just from Anna but from crew members and fans alike.

At the end of the day, Hollywood is all about perception—and right now, Blake’s is at an all-time low. Whether the movie survives the backlash is anyone’s guess, but one thing is certain: this feud isn’t dying down anytime soon.

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