Anna Kendrick appeared caught off guard when requested about Blake Energetic’s high-profile authorized battle with Justin Baldoni throughout the premiere of One other Easy Favor on the 2025 SXSW Movie & TV Competition. Whereas selling the extremely anticipated sequel, Kendrick responded with a puzzled expression and a humorous comment, sidestepping the controversy surrounding her co-star.
On Friday, March 7, Kendrick was strolling the purple carpet on the One other Easy Favor premiere in Austin, Texas, when a Selection reporter requested how the continued scenario involving Energetic and Baldoni is perhaps affecting the movie.
With a confused expression, Kendrick, 39, responded, “Why, what occurred?” earlier than including jokingly, “I did Ayahuasca within the final yr of my life is simply gone, however I’ve heard the film is superb.”
Her comment got here as Energetic made certainly one of her first main public appearances since submitting a lawsuit in opposition to It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni in December. Energetic, 37, accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and claimed he and his crew orchestrated a smear marketing campaign in opposition to her. Baldoni, 41, has denied the allegations and filed a $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit in opposition to Energetic, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist, Leslie Sloane, in January.
Regardless of the authorized turmoil, Energetic joined Kendrick and director Paul Feig on the SXSW occasion, marking their first public reunion since A Easy Favor (2018). The upcoming sequel follows Kendrick’s character, Stephanie, and Energetic’s Emily as they journey to Capri, Italy, for Emily’s extravagant wedding ceremony—solely to be met with betrayal and homicide.
Through the occasion, Feig expressed pleasure about reuniting along with his main girls, telling PEOPLE, “I had such an awesome expertise on the primary one. I like working with the 2 of them, in addition to the remainder of the forged.”
The film’s first promotional poster, launched on February 4, sparked on-line discussions, with some followers mentioning Energetic’s authorized battle and others questioning why her title was positioned above Kendrick’s. A supply near Kendrick informed PEOPLE that she is “not used to being caught up in any drama” and that a few of the backlash within the remark part “upset her.”
Nevertheless, one other insider assured followers that “there actually isn’t any drama or rift” between Kendrick and Energetic, emphasizing that the 2 actresses are nonetheless planning on doing press collectively.
Whereas Kendrick could also be retaining her distance from the authorized controversy, she and Energetic stay on the forefront of One other Easy Favor’s promotional efforts. The sequel, promising extra thriller and darkish humor, is about to premiere on Prime Video on Might 1.