SECRET RIVALRY Anna Kendrick fuels Blake Lively feud rumours as she answers question with VERY awkward three-word response
ANNA Kendrick has fueled rumours of a rift with her Another Simple Favor co-star Blake Lively.
The Hollywood actress, 39, appeared to take aim at Blake, 37, at the film‘s premiere at SXSW yesterday.
When she was asked what it was like to team up with Blake again seven years after the release of A Simple Favor, Anna said, “Oh, you know…” and walked away.
It was in stark contrast to Blake’s answer to the same question, when she said: “Oh it’s the best, I’m so happy.”
Fans picked up on it immediately, with one writing on X, “I’m having so much uncomfortableness.”
Another said, “Haha, sounds like there’s some funny behind-the-scenes moments.”
A third posted, “Lmfao it must be killing her to fake it and be on her best behavior.”
The pair’s ‘secret feud’ was first reported last month when it was claimed Anna was less than happy about the film being tainted by the ongoing legal drama between Blake and her It Ends With Us director, Justin Baldoni, 41.
The case was sparked following a bitter feud on-set, with her accusing him of sexual harassment.
Justin has since filed a $400million countersuit, which accused Blake, 37, and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, 48, of attempting to “destroy” his career and reputation.
Sources claim the legal battle could drag on “for years” – and now it appears the debacle is causing drama on Blake’s latest flick.
A source told MailOnline: “There is a gigantic pink elephant in the room that no one is acknowledging.
Blake Lively: Hollywood’s New Mean Girl?
“The backlash to initial promo has been brutal. There are people protesting and refusing to see it.
“‘Blake has not addressed this. She has not called the cast to apologise.
“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.”
The source added: “Anna is just over all of it.
“If Anna was in this position, she would not be letting the film take the fall for her own personal issues.”
The US Sun has gone to Anna’s reps for comment.
Maine-born Anna plays mommy vlogger Stephanie Smothers in the initial movie.
The promo for the spin off – which hits screens in March – has also allegedly sparked controversy due to the position of her and Blake’s names on the poster.
Another source added: “In the original film Anna got top billing over Blake.
“She thought it was a no-brainer that the same would happen this time around. But Blake didn’t see it that way.
“She fought, through her reps to get top billing over Anna, who refused to bow to Blake’s demands.”
MailOnline also reports how the warring Hollywood beauties have agreed on a staggered billing, which sees Blake’s name on top but in smaller font on the right hand side.
LEGAL WOE
Blake, who plays Emily Nelson in Another Simple Favor, is tackling her new project against her tough legal backdrop.
In her lawsuit last year, she accused Justin of fat-shaming her, showing her nude videos and pictures, and claimed he and his team orchestrated a smear campaign to ruin her reputation.
In response, the director, 40, has come out guns blazing with a federal suit against Blake, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and two publicists.
Documents seen by The U.S. Sun claim Lively set out to make Baldoni the “real-life villain in her story,” and schemed against him to deflect from the actress being seen as “tone-deaf” during the press tour.
He is asking for $400 million in damages after being dropped by his agency, WME, which also reps the Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging alum and her husband.
Justin, who denies the claims, had an award for “advocating on behalf of women and girls” taken away after Lively filed her complaint.
Justin claimed Blake organized a “takeover strategy” so she could have the final word in the movie, which is based on the book by Colleen Hoover.
He also claimed Blake forced the director and his family to miss the film’s premiere in August when she demanded he didn’t attend.
He said security at the premiere escorted his group to the theater’s basement.
He also claimed Blake didn’t read Hoover’s book when they were working on the script together.
