A former assistant director on the 2018 film A Simple Favor has made allegations that actress Blake Lively was “cruel” on set, leading her to leave the industry.

Barbara Szeman, who was credited as a fourth assistant director on the film, shared cryptic messages on social media implying that Lively’s behavior made her job unbearable. Her now-deleted Instagram account, @barbwiretv, posted a comment directed at Paul Feig, the movie’s director, after it was announced that the sequel, Another Simple Favor, would premiere on Prime Video in May.

Blake Lively allegedly caused issues on "A Simple Favor" set.

The controversy gained traction when Henry Golding, one of the film’s stars, shared the sequel’s poster online. Szeman commented on his post, stating that while she had an amazing experience working with most of the cast, one individual made her quit being an assistant director. Though she didn’t name Lively explicitly, speculation quickly spread.

Claims of On-Set Bullying

Szeman expanded on her claims in the comments, alleging that Lively mistreated multiple crew members. She revealed that she would often cry on her way home due to trying to meet impossible expectations, only to be met with constant criticism.

Assistant Director from "A Simple Favor" spills behind-the-scenes issues from set.

“I want to avoid attention around this, but I will say she was cruel to many,” she wrote, adding that karma had finally caught up with the actress.

Her comments sparked a wave of discussion online, though she later expressed regret for engaging in the conversation, saying she didn’t want to be dragged into the controversy.

Assistant Director from "A Simple Favor" accuses Blake Lively of on set bullying.

Feig and Others Defend Lively Amid Legal Battle with Justin Baldoni

Despite the accusations, A Simple Favor director Paul Feig came to Lively’s defense, calling her a “dream to work with” and an “amazing collaborator.”

This controversy comes at a sensitive time for Lively, who is currently involved in a high-profile legal battle with Justin Baldoni, her former It Ends With Us co-star and director. Lively has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and professional retaliation, while Baldoni has countersued her and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for defamation and extortion.

As part of his defense, Baldoni released private text messages and a detailed timeline of events, claiming Lively misused production funds and tried to gain excessive creative control over It Ends With Us.

Anna Kendrick’s Response and Fan Backlash

Meanwhile, A Simple Favor co-star Anna Kendrick has reportedly been caught in the crossfire. A source told People that Kendrick was upset by the negative reaction to the controversy, especially after some fans claimed they would boycott the sequel due to the allegations against Lively.

A SIMPLE FAVOR, from left: Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, 2018.

However, insiders close to the production have denied any feud between Kendrick and Lively, insisting that both actresses are still set to promote the sequel together.

With Another Simple Favor scheduled to premiere at the SXSW festival on March 7, the growing controversy surrounding Lively’s alleged past behavior and legal battle with Baldoni could overshadow the film’s release.

While Lively has remained silent on Szeman’s accusations, her ongoing court case with Baldoni is set for trial in March 2026, with a judge warning both sides to stop publicizing their legal fight to avoid influencing the jury.

For now, the allegations against Lively remain unverified, but they have certainly added to the ongoing drama surrounding her career and personal life.