Director Paul Feig omitted Blake Lively from an Instagram post in promotion of their upcoming collaboration Another Simple Favor, amid the ongoing drama and litigation she’s immersed in against her It Ends with Us costar-director Justin Baldoni.
Feig, 62, took to Instagram Tuesday with a post promoting the motion picture, a sequel to 2018’s A Simple Favor, tagging 11 other collaborators on the film – but not Lively, whose name is listed first in the credits.
The collaborators included Anna Kendrick, Henry Golding, Allison Janney, Elizabeth Perkins, Michele Morrone, Alex Newell, Taylor Ortega, Andrew Rannells, Elena Sofia Ricci and Holmes, as well as the film’s studio, Amazon Prime.
The omission stood in contrast to a post that came from Prime Video which did have Lively tagged, attracting a number of comments critical of the actress amid allegations Baldoni made in court filings over the film.
Lively has accused Baldoni of Sєxual harᴀssment, while he has fired back with a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds and her publicist Leslie Sloane claiming defamation and extortion. Baldoni has also posted court filings detailing communications with the Hollywood power couple linked to It Ends with Us on a newly-released website.
Dailymail.com has reached out to Feig and his rep for further comment on this story.
Director Paul Feig, 62, omitted Blake Lively, 37, from an Instagram post in promotion of their upcoming collaboration Another Simple Favor, amid the ongoing litigation she’s immersed in against her It Ends with Us costar-director Justin Baldoni, 41. Feig seen in 2022
Feig took to Instagram Tuesday with a post promoting the motion picture, a sequel to 2018’s A Simple Favor, tagging 11 other collaborators on the film – but not Lively, whose name is listed first in the credits
Feig – whose other cinematic credits include 2011’s Bridesmaids, 2016’s Ghostbusters and 2024’s Jackpot! – did make a supportive statement of Lively in the comment thread of the Prime Video post.
Amid Baldoni’s claims that Lively and her inner circle used her clout to commandeer changes to the script – even enlisting Taylor Swift to lean on him at one point – and re-cut the motion picture, a user asked in the comment section, ‘Is it Paul Feig’s cut or Blake’s cut?’
Read More Justin Baldoni ‘financially devastated’ by Blake Lively war after ‘losing three jobs’ 
The Emmy-nominated director, who has directed shows such as Arrested Development, The Office and Nurse Jackie, made clear he had full creative control over the film, while heaping mᴀssive praise on Lively.
‘It’s my cut,’ Feig, a native of Mount Clemens, Michigan-born said in response. ‘There is no other cut.
‘Blake has been nothing but supportive and a dream to work with. She is the best and an amazing collaborator and I’m her biggest fan. Just wanted to clear that up.
Feig’s post was put up to hearken the news the motion picture, which was written by Jessica Sharzer, will be kicking off next month’s SXSW Film and TV Festival in Austin, Texas.
‘I have a simple favor to ask you… can you save the date?’ Feig said in the post. ‘#AnotherSimpleFavor from @AmazonMGMStudios is premiering as the opening night film at @SXSW in Austin on March 7th. And then we hit @PrimeVideo on May 1st. Stay tuned for more details and much more fun!’
Prime Video’s post, which did have Lively tagged into it, read, ‘We have Another Simple Favor to ask you… can you save the date? Opening Night at SXSW. May 1 on Prime Video.’
Lively stars in alongside Kendrick in the sequel to their 2018 film A Simple Flavor, as they reprise their respective roles of Emily Nelson and Stephanie Smothers.
The omission stood in contrast to a post that came from Prime Video which did have Lively tagged, attracting a number of comments critical of the actress amid allegations Baldoni made in court filings over the film
Feig did make a supportive statement of Lively in the comment thread of the Prime Video post
Feig said of LIvely, ‘Blake has been nothing but supportive and a dream to work with. She is the best and an amazing collaborator and I’m her biggest fan. Just wanted to clear that up.’ Pictured in 2018 in NYC
Lively stars in alongside Anna Kendrick in the sequel to their 2018 film A Simple Flavor, as they reprise their respective roles of Emily Nelson and Stephanie Smothers
A logline from producers said that the sequel ‘follows Stephanie Smothers and Emily Nelson as they head to the beautiful island of Capri, Italy, for Emily’s extravagant wedding to a rich Italian businessman.’
People flooded both the Prime Video post and Feig’s with comments referring to allegations made by Baldoni in court filings and an adjacent website.
Read More Blake Lively seen for first time in weeks amid Justin Baldoni lawsuit 
‘Did Ryan rewrite a scene?’ one user asked, another wisecracked, ‘Is the poster promoting Ryan’s gin as well?’ while another person asked, ‘Is this the real version or did Blake edit it?’
One commenter referenced on Feig’s post an allegation Baldoni made in court filings that Lively arranged for his presence to be minimized at the It Ends with Us premiere.
‘Be careful you might end up in the basement in the premiere,’ a user said.
One user asked, ‘Why is Blake’s name higher than Anna’s?’ while another asked, ‘Did Blake refuse to work unless her name was slightly higher than Anna’s?’
One user asked, ‘Is Blake going to sue Anna for harᴀssment too?’ while another said, ‘If we like Anna more. Blake will sue Anna saying this is another smear campaign?’
Another user joked, ‘I’m surprised Anna’s name is still on the marketing poster lol’ while one user noted the placement of the respective names of the film’s stars, saying, ‘Blake’s name had to be printed higher than Anna’s…’
A number of people said they were put off by Lively in general and uninterested in her next project or adjacent promotional tour, in light of Baldoni’s accusations.
‘Yikes another Blake Lively press tour,’ one user said, while another said, ‘More Blake Lively everywhere. Great.’
Lively faced the wrath of Instagram in a number of comments made on the promotional post
One user opined, ‘I don’t feel like watching anything with Blake Lively on unless she produces any kind of evidence corroborating her story in court. Right now, things look very bad for her.’
Said one user, ‘We are not watching this movie BLAKE. After what you did to an innocent man, Justin.’
Read More Blake Lively sources say Justin Baldoni lawsuit is causing her and Ryan Reynolds ‘severe anguish’ 
In regard to allegations that Reynolds wrote a character named Nicepool into the ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool 2 film, intended to parody and humiliate Baldoni, a user asked, ‘Will Ryan be making fun of Anna is his next film as well?’
Others referenced a text Lively sent likening Reynolds and Swift to Game of Thrones dragons, with one person writing, ‘How involved are Blake’s dragons on this one?’ while another said, ‘Will there be dragons?’
Some acknowledged they were just commenting amid the spectacle of the situation, as one user said they ‘came straight to the comments’ amid the controversies, while another asked, ‘Who came for just the comments?’
Another person remarked, ‘This is the worst timing for this promotion lmfao,’ while one predicted, ‘They will be turning off the comments soon.’
Lively has accused Baldoni of Sєxual harᴀssment, while he has fired back with a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds and her publicist Leslie Sloane claiming defamation and extortion.
Baldoni, who has shared his communications with Lively over the film on a newly-released website, says the trio concocted ‘false accusations of Sєxual harᴀssment’ against him.
Some commenters made reference to allegations Baldoni made in court filings that Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, 48, strong-armed him into letting her drastically change It Ends with Us’s screenplay and editing. The Hollywood power couple pictured at the NYC premiere of It Ends With Us in August
Reynolds, whose alleged actions were reviewed in detail by Baldoni in court filings, also was targeted by commenters
Others referenced a text Lively sent likening Reynolds and Swift to Game of Thrones dragons, with one person writing, ‘How involved are Blake’s dragons on this one?’ while another said, ‘Will there be dragons?’
The post came amid a report that Lively’s legal battles with Baldoni have taken ‘a deep emotional toll’ and on the actress and her husband, who has been named in one of the suits, an insider close to Lively told TMZ Tuesday.
The Los Angeles native and her spouse have experienced ‘severe anguish’ amid the drama surrounding the production, promotion and release of the motion picture, the insider said, and she is striving ‘to get this all ʙuттoned up.’
Read More The truth about Blake Lively’s claim she was fat-shamed by Justin Baldoni 
Lively, who played Lily Bloom opposite Baldoni’s Ryle Kincaid in the romantic drama, was ‘grateful’ for how a Monday hearing in New York City went, sources told the outlet.
Lively – who is mother to four kids with Reynolds – felt that Judge Lewis J. Liman ‘ruled in her favor’ by issuing a warning to Baldoni lawyer Bryan Freedman over statements made to the media that could impact the jury selection process over multiple cases.
In the hearing, the federal judge admonished attorneys on both sides to cease speaking publicly on the case out of fears it could impact potential jury selection, and said he could move up the slated March 9, 2026 trial date if they were unable to do so.
Sources close to Lively said the actress was ‘more than ready for her day in court’ and prepared to show the court and public the validity of Sєxual harᴀssment and retaliation claims she made against Baldoni.
Lively’s attorneys Michael Gottlieb and Esra Hudson told Dailymail.com in a statement on Monday following court proceedings, ‘We are pleased with the result of today’s hearing and eager to move forward immediately with discovery in this case.
‘The Court granted our request that all attorneys in the matter actually follow the rule of law and not make any statements that could prejudice a jury. This case deals with serious allegations of Sєxual harᴀssment and retaliation.’
A number of people said they were put off by Lively in general and uninterested in her next project or adjacent promotional tour, in light of Baldoni’s accusations. Lively pictured in NYC in August
Baldoni on January 16 filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds and her publicist Leslie Sloane, alleging defamation and extortion. Baldoni pictured in LA in December
Gottlieb and Hudson told Dailymail.com they intended to ‘hold the defendants accountable’ and ‘are confident that once all the evidence is submitted in this matter, Ms. Lively will prevail.’
Sources close to Justin Baldoni’s team had a clearly different interpretation of Monday’s hearings in remarks made to Dailymail.com.
‘The judge did not rule in Ms. Lively’s favor, what they had asked of the court was a gag order, for Blake not to be deposed by Bryan and for the entire case to be dismissed against them – none of that happened,’ insiders close to Baldoni said. ‘Therefore the court did not rule in her favor.’
They added, ‘Private individuals have suffered hugely due to celebrity Ms. Lively’s vastly untrue claims and they too, are looking forward to their day in court to show the truth.’
Lively feels Baldoni’s efforts – which include the publication of a website showcasing court filings containing text messages and other media related to the production of the movie – amount to a ‘counter claim sideshow,’ sources told TMZ Tuesday.
Baldoni’s team previously said that the communications shared in court filings on the website – which already has fans talking – makes things clear about the actions of both parties, marking the latest chapter in the feud between the lead stars of romantic drama.
The website, which is live online at thelawsuitinfo.com, comes amid a spate of high-profile litigation between the collaborators on the film, which was a hit at the box office last August.
The site that contained that revelation and others went live days prior to the first hearing Monday, which was previously pushed up from an initial date of February 12, ahead of a trial with a starting date of March 9, 2026 in the case.
Making changes to the film’s rooftop scene was a huge priority for Lively and Reynolds, Baldoni said in court filings
The motion picture earned $148 million in domestic box office, and $350 million globally
Lawyers for both parties were in accordance with a plan to compound both federal cases filed into one moving forward.
Lively in December sued Baldoni amid claims of Sєxual harᴀssment during production of the motion picture, which was a hit when it arrived in theaters in August.
In Lively’s lawsuit against Baldoni, the Gossip Girl alum accused Baldoni of Sєxually harᴀssing her in multiple ways – including body shaming her – and orchestrating a smear campaign against her to damage her reputation.
Baldoni has denied all of the claims against him in Lively’s legal filing. He and his reps have said in response to the lawsuit that Lively twisted the meaning of text messages and mislead the public about their interactions while making the motion picture.
Lively filed an 80-page civil rights complaint with the California Civil Rights Department against Baldoni December 20, before officially filing a federal lawsuit on December 31.
In her lawsuit, Lively named a number of Baldoni’s collaborators, including his company Wayfarer Studios, the studio’s CEO and financial backer, and PR personnel Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel.
‘I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted,’ Lively told The New York Times the day after she filed the complaint.
Baldoni subsequently sued the newspaper for $250 million in a defamation claim over a December 21 story тιтled ‘”We Can Bury Anyone”: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine;’ the newspaper has denied the allegations.
Lively in December sued Baldoni amid claims of Sєxual harᴀssment during production of the motion picture, which was a hit when it arrived in theaters in August
Baldoni on January 16 filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds and her publicist Leslie Sloane, alleging defamation and extortion. Baldoni told the court the trio had concocted ‘false accusations of Sєxual harᴀssment’ against him.
Since Lively’s complaint was filed, Baldoni has faced a number of professional consequences, including a lawsuit from a former publicist; and being dropped by the agency WME, which also reps Lively and Reynolds.
WME has denied claims that Lively and Reynolds leaned on them to release Baldoni from their client roster, according to Variety.
It Ends with Us, which also starred Jenny Slate, Hasan Minhaj, Brandon Sklenar and Kevin McKidd, arrived in theaters August 9 and was a hit with audiences. The film, adapted from the 2016 Colleen Hoover novel, earned $148 million in domestic box office, and $350 million globally, according to Box Office Mojo.
Lively broke out with the 2005 movie The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants opposite Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel and America Ferrera. That led to her high-profile role on the TV show Gossip Girl, which she starred on from 2007-2012, playing lead character Serena van der Woodsen.
She has also appeared in movies such as 2010’s The Town, 2016’s The Shallows, 2018’s A Simple Favor and 2020’s The Rhythm Section.
Prior to It Ends with Us, Baldoni was best known for playing the role of Rafael Solano on the TV show Jane the Virgin from 2014–2019. He also has directed films including 2019’s Five Feet Apart and 2020’s Clouds, and penned the 2021 book Man Enough, which tackled misconceptions of contemporary masculinity.
