Another Simple Favor director Paul Feig is not here for the “outrage” surrounding his movie’s star, Blake Lively.
In an interview with Esquire U.K. published on Wednesday, April 30, Feig, 62, commented on Lively’s ongoing legal drama with her It Ends With Us director and costar, Justin Baldoni — calling her “an amazing collaborator.”
“When I read people’s misconceptions about how movies are made, it’s just frustrating for me,” he said, alluding to Baldoni’s claims that Lively, 37, “seized control” of his 2024 film, based on the novel of the same name by Colleen Hoover.
“Every star I’ve worked with works this way. The idea that a star just shows up and you go, ‘Here’s the script’ — please point me to one movie star who works that way,” Feig added. “So when the gang on the internet get [up in arms] about something, it’s just like, guys, you don’t know what you’re talking about. I love working with Blake — she’s just the best.”
Another Simple Favor director Paul Feig is debunking speculation about Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick’s joint appearance at SXSW. A YouTuber claimed via X on Friday, March 7, that Lively, 37, and Kendrick, 39, were allegedly uncomfortable jointly attending the Austin, Texas premiere of Another Simple Favor. “I just reported on Blake being terrified to […]
Lively is currently entangled in legal woes with Baldoni, 41, who she accused of sexual harassment and allegedly organizing a smear campaign against her in a December 2024 lawsuit. He has denied her allegations and subsequently countersued Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and her publicist Leslie Sloane. In the $400 million lawsuit, Baldoni accused the group of civil extortion, defamation, false light invasion of privacy and other claims. Lively, Reynolds, 48, and Sloane have all denied the claims and filed motions to be removed. The legal battle is ongoing and scheduled for trial in 2026.
Feig — who’s worked with the likes of Melissa McCarthy and Sydney Sweeney on movies such as Bridesmaids and the upcoming The Housemaid — added of the situation, which has attracted the attention of many social media users and online sleuths: “Outrage is the most boring emotion humans have these days — when it’s towards something meaningful, that’s great. But people get outraged at everything. It’s like, this is what you’re angry about? There’s other things to be outraged about — please, go and help make the world a better place.”
Feig could have also been referencing rumors that Lively and her Another Simple Favor costar Anna Kendrick don’t get along, which began circulating after the film premiered at SXSW in March.
Feig addressed the reported narrative after YouTuber Melanie King‘s alleged via X on March 7 that Lively was “terrified to walk the carpet” at the SXSW premiere because “Anna is pissed and never wants to work with her again.”
Feig responded to the post the following day, writing, “Um … you’re wrong.”
Blake Lively, Paul Feig and Anna Kendrick attend “Another Simple Favor” New York Screening at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 27, 2025 in New York City. Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
“Everybody kind of jumped back on. They were excited about it,” Feig told Extra at the film’s New York premiere on April 27. He noted that “it’s thrilling” to watch them spar onscreen, saying, “their chemistry is through the roof, just watching them play off each other. It’s really exciting.”
Lively called Kendrick, 39, a “dream” in a post shared via Instagram Stories following the premiere last week. She praised Feig and her costar in a sweet caption underneath a clip of the trio, writing, “@paulfeig @annkendrick47 Really are the dream. And you can see it when you watch the movie. @asimplefavor.”
Kendrick, for her part, told People that although she doesn’t see Lively often outside of filming, getting back together onscreen was seamless.
“She lives on the East Coast, I live on the West Coast, so we don’t get to see each other often,” Kendrick said. “But it was lovely, and I think that those characters have such weird chemistry that it’s so fun to just get the gang back together. And it does feel a little bit like riding a bike.”
A source also exclusively told Us Weekly that there was no bad blood between the costars.
“There aren’t any issues between Blake and Anna right now,” the insider told Us in February, noting that both actresses “really love” the sequel.
Another Simple Favor is now streaming on Prime Video.
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