Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick’s film faces drama: AD says she quit her career after the first movie

Things are not getting easier for Blake Lively in the court of public opinion. Another person has entered the conversation about her behavior on set, alluding to the idea that they stopped pursuing that field of work because of her.

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Barbara Szeman, an assistant director on the 2018 film A Simple Favor, seemingly called out Lively in now-deleted comments on Henry Golding’s recent Instagram post about the upcoming Another Simple Favor, which has since gone viral.

Szeman hinted at a bad experience working with Lively, writing, "My experience with everyone was amazing, except for a certain someone who is the reason I quit being an AD," per Page Six. 

Though she didn’t name names, writing, "Guess who that person is…,” Szeman’s cryptic message left many speculating it was Lively. Especially considering everything that is going on. 

“... I will say she was cruel to many. I know I cried my way home many nights because you try so hard to please someone who is never pleased and puts you down constantly,” she further claimed. "I can’t believe it’s actually getting back at her. Karma is real," pretty much solidified who she was talking about. 

One of her friends also cosigned the situation, saying, "I’ve been thinking about you and this whole situation because you told me the stories so long ago. It’s good that you commented."

Szeman later expressed regret over the comments after they went viral, writing on Facebook, “Last time I leave a comment on an Instagram post.”

How is Anna Kendrick handling everything?

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As for how Lively's Another Simple Favor costar Anna Kendrick is handling everything, a source told PEOPLE, "The comments on Instagram have upset her, especially the ones saying fans are now refusing to watch the movie because they don’t want to support Blake.

There have also been rumors of a rift between the costars, but another insider told the outlet, "There is no feud. The film is in the early stages of planning what press will look like, and Blake and Anna will be doing some things together."

What's next for the case

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People reported on Thursday, that both Lively and Baldoni have opted out of mediation, meaning a trial is looking more likely. In a February 13 filing, their attorneys called settlement talks "inappropriate" and "premature." Lively’s team is now pushing for Baldoni’s phone records, claiming they’ll expose efforts to "destroy" her reputation.

Earlier this month, both sides met for a pre-trial conference where Judge Liman warned against using the media to sway public opinion. He also declined to sanction Baldoni’s attorney despite Lively’s team accusing him of attacking her publicly. The trial is currently set for March 9, 2026. 

While the bad vibes don't seem to be slowing down for Lively, the author of the book that started it all, Colleen Hoover, seems ready to move on. The author returned to Instagram this week, noticeably removing posts involving both LIvely and Baldoni. 

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