A simple response.
Director Paul Feig denied rumors of tension between Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick at the premiere of their movie “Another Simple Favor” at the South by Southwest Film & TV Festival on Friday — amid Lively’s legal drama with Justin Baldoni.
Feig spoke out on Saturday after YouTuber Melanie King claimed Lively, 37, was afraid to walk the red carpet because Kendrick, 39, was upset with her.
“I just revorted [sic] on Blake being terrified to walk the carpet as Anna is pissed and never wants to work with her again,” King posted on X Friday alongside a selfie-style photo of Lively, Kendrick with their costars Henry Golding, 38, and Michele Morrone, 34, before they appeared on the carpet at SXSW.
A little over an hour later, Feig, 62, quoted the post on X, writing, “Um … you’re wrong.”
Feig directed both “Another Simple Favor” and its forebearer, 2018’s “A Simple Favor,” which also starred Lively and Kendrick.
A source with knowledge of the actress’ interactions at the premiere agreed with the director’s characterization, telling The Post, “I think his quote says it all.”
The pair’s movements and comments were closely watched and scrutinized given Lively’s ongoing legal fight with her “It Ends With Us” costar and director Justin Baldoini.
Asked by a reporter from Entertainment Tonight on Friday what it was like working with Kendrick again, Lively responded, “Oh, it’s the best. I’m so happy to be here.”
When a similar question was put to Kendrick, the “Pitch Perfect” star replied, “Oh, you know.”
The actress then dodged a question that seemingly alluded to Lively’s drama with Baldoni
“How does it feel like the movie’s being impacted by everything happening around, going on in the world?” a reporter for Variety asked.
Kendrick responded, “Why, what happened? I did ayahuasca and the last year of my life is just gone.”
“But I’ve heard the movie is a-mazing,” she continued with a smile before blowing a kiss and walking away.
Inside the theater, “It worked out, so I was like, ‘OK, no nerves. I know what I’m doing this time,’” Lively said on Friday of returning for the sequel. “Right before we started shooting, [Paul] said, ‘I have, like, a little bit of a curveball idea.’ I’m not going to say what it was because, you know, we don’t want to give away anything.”
“But it definitely upped the ante. It was very uncomfortable to watch in this theater with you all.”
She added, “But, yeah, it was fun. It’s always fun getting to work with Anna again, obviously, and this incredible group of people is amazing.”
Last month, Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, 48, walked the “SNL” 50th anniversary special red carpet, shortly before the “Deadpool & Wolverine” actor joked about the “It Ends With Us” saga during the live broadcast.
In a segment where Tina Fey and Amy Poehler took questions from the star-studded audience in Studio 8H, Poehler, 53, called on Reynolds, who was sat next to Lively.
“Ryan Reynolds, how’s it going?” the “Parks and Recreation” star asked.
Reynolds quipped: “Why? What have you heard?”
Lively originally sued Baldoni in December for $250 million, claiming he sexually harassed her while filming, and proceeded to launch a smear campaign after she spoke out about her alleged mistreatment.
Baldoni and his publicists countersued Lively and Reynolds for $400 million, alleging she defamed and extorted them.
Both parties have denied each other’s allegations.
Days prior to Lively attending SXSW, she and Reynolds asked a judge to shield their messages with “high-profile” friends from Baldoni and his publicists.
A trial in the case is scheduled for March 2026.
