“Um … you’re wrong” — Paul Feig responds to YouTuber’s claims Anna Kendrick “never wants to work” with Blake Lively again

Director Paul Feig has addressed the rumors of drama between actresses Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick, by refuting such claims on social media.

Rumors of a rift between the two stars rose amidst the first screening of their new film, Another Simple Favor. The mystery comedy premiered on March 7 at the 2025 South by Southwest (SXSW) Film & TV Festival. Feig, who has directed the film, has stated that the reports of bad blood between the two actresses are false.

The rumor originated from social media influencer Melanie King, who claimed in a post:

"Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick before they walk the red varpet at the sxsw Another Simple Favor premiere. I just reported on Blake being terrified to walk the carpet as Anna is pissed and never wants to work with her again"

The movie’s director Paul Feig was quick to respond on X, rejecting the claims of Melanie King with a straightforward, stern statement that read:

“Um … you’re wrong.”

The speculations of a feud between Lively and Kendrick trace back to the first film of the franchise, A Simple Favor, which released in 2018. According to Screen Rant, some fans at the time cited moments they perceived to be awkward between the two stars during interviews as possible signs of friction.

In one such shared clip, Anna Kendrick teased Blake Lively not to touch her, which some viewers read as genuine tension between the two actresses. The stars, however, have never publicly endorsed any trouble between them.

Paul Feig, Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively speak about their experience while filming Another Simple Favor

Lively and Kendrick have opened up about their experience working together on Another Simple Favor, and they seem to contradict the ongoing speculations.

In an interview with People, Anna Kendrick described the experience of working on the sequel as fun, noting how the film reunited her and Lively since they stay far away from each other. She said:

“She lives on the East Coast, I live on the West Coast, so we don't get to see each other often... I think that those characters have such weird chemistry that it's so fun to just get the gang back together."

Meanwhile, Lively's reaction on working with Kendrick can be seen in a clip posted on the verified Instagram handle of Entertainment Tonight. She was asked:

"Blake, what does it mean to be back with Anna?"

To this, Lively replied:

"I'm so happy!"

On the other hand, Paul Feig has indicated that he got the desire to make a sequel because of the chemistry between the two actresses. He told People:

"I mean, I had such a great experience on the first one. It always kind of stuck with me, like, ‘God, I love working with the two of them’ — as well as the rest of the cast."

Actor Henry Golding returns in the sequel along with Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick. New cast members in the sequel include Elena Sofia Ricci, Elizabeth Perkins, and Allison Janney.