The marriage between Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively is legendary for its genuine love, stunning aesthetics, and, most famously, its relentless campaign of public social media trolling. However, the equilibrium of their relationship was hilariously—and possibly irreparably—disrupted when Lively filmed the 2018 comedic thriller, A Simple Favor (directed by Paul Feig), starring Anna Kendrick.
The on-screen chemistry between Kendrick and Lively quickly translated into a close, playful friendship off-screen, leading Reynolds to famously surrender, joking that Kendrick was the only person he was truly “afraid of” because she had completely stolen his wife right under his nose.
The Crossover Event: A Simple Favor
The film itself centered on an unlikely and tumultuous friendship between the perfectly polished, mysterious Emily Nelson (Blake Lively) and the upbeat, unassuming mommy blogger Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick). The intense, competitive, and highly stylish dynamic between their characters fueled the film’s success and created an immediate, strong bond between the two actresses.
During the press tour for A Simple Favor, the two women showcased their genuine chemistry, engaging in their own brand of sarcastic, often romantic-tinged banter, much to the delight of the public—and the mock terror of Ryan Reynolds.
Lively fired the opening shot of the “fauxmance” in June 2018 when she shared a poster for the film on Instagram, joking that Anna Kendrick was “the hotter, female(r) version of my husband… so, would it reaaaally count as cheating??”
Reynolds’ Humiliating Surrender
The joke escalated into a full-blown, public rivalry over Blake Lively’s affection, with Ryan Reynolds playing the part of the jealous, discarded husband perfectly.
Kendrick enthusiastically played along, commenting on Lively’s post: “So glad we’re finally taking this public. I let Ryan have Deadpool. He can give me this.”
Reynolds, who has made a career out of his self-deprecating humor, immediately threw in the towel, commenting that the situation was “The most ambitious crossover event in history. I’ll miss you both. Tell my story.”
In a later interview, Reynolds confessed that he was entirely powerless in the face of his wife’s obvious infatuation with her co-star. When asked about Kendrick’s claim to his wife, he hilariously responded:
“I know a lot of guys that would be fine with that, but not me, I would like to hang onto her. Yeah, please let’s not do that… She would be so well taken care of with Anna, though. But no, access denied.”
His mock surrender to the force of the Lively-Kendrick friendship was the ultimate tribute to their authentic bond, confirming that in the battle for Blake Lively’s attention, Anna Kendrick was the one person Ryan Reynolds simply couldn’t beat, admitting: “She’s the Only Person I’m Afraid Of, Not Any Man.”
The Data of Their Banter
The playful, high-profile trolling has become a cultural phenomenon in its own right, consistently generating viral attention that few marketing campaigns can match:
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Film Success: A Simple Favor, the origin of this triangle, was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $97.6 million worldwide on a modest budget, a success often attributed to the chemistry of its leads.
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Trolling Empire: The banter between the three stars remains a perpetual source of entertainment, driving engagement across social media platforms and reinforcing the public’s love for their unconventional relationships. (Their dynamic has been so successful that the trio have reunited for a sequel, Another Simple Favor.)