Hollywood thrives on illusion, and Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick’s so-called “bond” is proving to be just another example of that.
As their upcoming A Simple Favor sequel gears up for release, the two actresses are suddenly all over each other—smiling for the cameras, exchanging playful banter, and pretending like they’re the best of friends.
But fans aren’t buying it. Their supposed closeness feels painfully staged, a transparent PR stunt designed to generate buzz and salvage a film that might not stand on its own.
Behind the carefully curated social media posts and forced public interactions, insiders suggest that Lively and Kendrick’s “friendship” is nothing more than a business arrangement.
Lively and Kendrick first starred together in A Simple Favor (2018), a stylish mystery-thriller that gained a cult following but wasn’t exactly a massive blockbuster.
The announcement of a sequel came as a surprise to many, leading some to question whether there was even enough demand for a follow-up.
Enter the PR machine. Suddenly, Lively and Kendrick are inseparable again, posting cute exchanges, appearing at industry events together, and hyping up their supposed off-screen chemistry. But where was this energy before the sequel was greenlit?
For years, the two barely interacted, leading fans to assume they were nothing more than colleagues. Yet now, just as the sequel needs publicity, they’ve conveniently rediscovered their “friendship.”
If their chemistry were real, it wouldn’t feel so painfully forced. But every interview, every red-carpet appearance, and every Instagram exchange seems manufactured for headlines. Their interactions read like a PR team’s checklist:
Playful teasing? Check. Over-the-top compliments? Check. Carefully worded “inside jokes” to make it seem like they’re besties? Check.
Compare this to genuine Hollywood friendships—like the effortless camaraderie of Emma Stone and Jennifer Lawrence or the long-standing bond between Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
In contrast, Lively and Kendrick’s interactions feel like two actors playing a role—because, in a way, they are.
Of the two, Blake Lively has the most to gain from this PR stunt. While Kendrick has continued working on successful projects, balancing blockbuster films with critically acclaimed indie roles, Lively’s career has stalled.
Her last major film, The Rhythm Section (2020), was a box office disaster. Since then, she has been more focused on brand partnerships, social media presence, and her marriage to Ryan Reynolds than on actual acting.
Now, with the A Simple Favor sequel, she sees an opportunity to step back into the spotlight.
But rather than letting her work speak for itself, she’s resorting to Hollywood’s oldest trick—manufacturing an on-screen friendship into an off-screen spectacle.
One of the most telling signs that this “friendship” is fake is Kendrick’s history of strained relationships with certain co-stars.
Known for her sharp wit and no-nonsense personality, Kendrick doesn’t go out of her way to maintain Hollywood friendships unless they’re genuine.
Fans have pointed out that Kendrick rarely spoke about Lively in past years, even after A Simple Favor became a hit.
Unlike other actors who openly celebrate their close friendships, Kendrick seemed indifferent. Now, suddenly, she’s playing along.
The most likely explanation? Studio pressure. When a film is struggling to build hype, the easiest way to generate interest is to convince audiences that the lead actors have real chemistry.
Hollywood has been using fake friendships to promote movies for decades. Sometimes, it works—fans love the illusion of real-life bonds translating to on-screen magic.
But other times, audiences see through the act, and the forced dynamic ends up backfiring.
In this case, A Simple Favor 2 will either succeed on its own merits or flop regardless of how much Lively and Kendrick pretend to be best friends.
f the film is good, no one will care whether their friendship is real or not. But if the sequel fails to live up to the original, this PR stunt will look even more pathetic in hindsight.
Once the movie is out and the promotional cycle ends, don’t be surprised if Lively and Kendrick magically “drift apart” again.
The Instagram interactions will slow down, the playful interviews will disappear, and their supposed bond will quietly fade—until, of course, they need to reunite for another sequel.
At the end of the day, Hollywood is all about selling a story, and right now, Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick’s “friendship” is just another narrative designed to keep audiences interested.
But as the public grows increasingly aware of these tactics, the question remains: will fans continue falling for the act, or has the PR machine finally lost its touch?
