In the competitive and often hilarious world of the TV show Lip Sync Battle, contestants are encouraged to bring theatrical flair and a touch of mischief to their performances. However, in a legendary 2015 episode, actress Anna Kendrick elevated the art of the friendly battle to a declaration of humorous war against her opponent, John Krasinski, by publicly “stealing” his wife, the celebrated actress Emily Blunt. The resulting performance was so audacious and flawlessly executed that it instantly went viral, storming social media and becoming one of the show’s most iconic moments.
The Challenge: Declaring War on Krasinski
The rivalry between Anna Kendrick and John Krasinski—who are real-life friends—was amplified by the nature of the show. For her final, decisive round, Kendrick chose a provocative song: “Steal My Girl” by the pop group One Direction. The title alone was a clear, hilarious threat to Krasinski. Kendrick’s performance was not merely a lip-sync routine; it was a carefully plotted, multi-media ambush designed to leave her opponent utterly devastated, yet laughing.
The Execution: The Visual Weapons
Kendrick used a series of escalating visual props to drive her point home, proving that in this battle, all is fair in love and war (and lip-syncing). The T-Shirt Taunt: Midway through the performance, Kendrick ripped off her outer shirt to reveal a custom-made T-shirt. The shirt featured a large, clear picture of Emily Blunt’s face with a simple, unmistakable heart drawn on it, sending Krasinski into a state of mock despair. The Video Coup: The true climax came when Kendrick pointed dramatically to the large backdrop screen. Instead of showing the original One Direction music video, the screen lit up with a specially recorded video montage. The video showed Emily Blunt herself, Krasinski’s wife, warmly greeting Kendrick and then affectionately hugging and stroking Kendrick’s cheek, all while giving a sly, triumphant look to the camera. The moment was a knockout blow. Krasinski, watching his wife openly “betray” him in the performance, visibly collapsed into a chair on stage, clutching his head in exaggerated surrender and defeat.
Data and Impact: A Viral Sensation
The episode quickly became a benchmark for the show and a viral hit, demonstrating the power of celebrity relationships and creative competition: Social Media Storm: Clips of the performance, particularly Krasinski’s reaction to the T-shirt and the video, were shared thousands of times across platforms, becoming an enduring GIF and meme. Show Rating: The Lip Sync Battle episode featuring the Kendrick vs. Krasinski rivalry is consistently cited as one of the show’s most popular and highly viewed installments, contributing significantly to the series’ early success on Spike TV (later Paramount Network). Anna Kendrick didn’t just win the battle; she delivered a flawless performance of theatrical betrayal, solidifying her status as the undisputed victor of that episode and proving that when the cameras are rolling, she’s willing to “Steal My Girl” for a laugh.