Anna Kendrick’s Reflections on Sexual Fluidity Still Resonate Six Years Later

In August 2018, Anna Kendrick spoke candidly about her own experiences with sexual fluidity during an interview with PrideSource while promoting her film A Simple Favor. The Academy Award–nominated actress, best known for Pitch Perfect and Up in the Air, was 33 at the time and offered a rare glimpse into her personal life—one that continues to spark conversations years later, even though she has not revisited the subject in recent interviews.

The PrideSource Interview

During the PrideSource conversation, Kendrick addressed the fluid aspects of her sexuality after being asked about the “queerness” in her roles and whether she had ever experienced a romantic attraction to another woman. She recalled a meaningful kiss with a female friend shortly after high school.

“There’s somebody I’m still friends with, and when we met we kissed,” Kendrick explained. “This was after high school, and it was the first time I had kissed a girl where it wasn’t just like, we’re at a party and boys are watching—that horrible performance silliness.”

While she acknowledged she had not yet experienced “emotional love for a lady,” Kendrick emphasized that it “isn’t saying it could never happen to me,” signaling an openness to future possibilities without confining herself to a fixed label.

Kendrick also drew parallels between her personal outlook and her A Simple Favor co-star Blake Lively’s character, Emily, who embraces sexual fluidity with confidence. She noted that she identified more with Emily’s approach than with her own character, Stephanie, a reserved suburban mom caught in a web of intrigue.

Context: Career and Queer Connections

Kendrick’s remarks carried weight in part because of her long-standing ties to LGBTQ+ audiences. She made her film debut in Camp (2003), a queer-centered teen musical that immersed her in LGBTQ+ culture at just 17. Her portrayal of Beca in the Pitch Perfect trilogy (2012–2017) further endeared her to queer fans, especially through the fan-favorite pairing “Bechloe,” the imagined romance between Beca and Chloe (Brittany Snow).

Kendrick herself fueled the fandom by revealing she and Snow once filmed an alternate ending where their characters ended up together—though it was ultimately cut. “I will fight tooth and nail for it,” she said at the time, openly encouraging speculation about what could have been.

Her playful persona on social media, often laced with sharp humor, also resonated with queer fans. In a 2016 interview with The Advocate, when asked about being called a “gay icon,” Kendrick joked: “I’m such a straight, cis, Boringface McGee over here, so I love that that could be even a little true. The idea that I’m resonating with other people who have ever felt like outsiders is the coolest.”

Public Response and Queerbaiting Critique

Kendrick’s openness was widely reported by outlets including Autostraddle, Yahoo, and Watermark. Many praised her candor, with fans on platforms like Reddit noting her willingness to embrace fluidity without forcing herself into a label. One commenter observed in 2022: “She’s said she’s sexually fluid before so who knows,” underscoring the enduring curiosity about her comments.

At the same time, her remarks prompted criticism. Some observers accused her of queerbaiting—leveraging LGBTQ+ curiosity without explicitly claiming an identity—especially given her on-screen kiss with Blake Lively in A Simple Favor and the unresolved “Bechloe” storyline in Pitch Perfect. A 2021 Gay Times feature highlighted how such playful hints, including Kendrick’s flirtatious online exchanges with Lively, fed speculation among fans “irrationally invested in the potential sexual fluidity of celebrities.”

Defenders countered that public figures are under no obligation to “come out” or provide neat answers about their identity. For many, Kendrick’s willingness to acknowledge ambiguity itself was meaningful representation.

Lasting Impact

Though Kendrick has not revisited the subject of sexual fluidity in recent interviews, her 2018 comments remain part of a larger conversation about the spectrum of sexuality and how Hollywood stars navigate public expectations. For some, her honesty offered validation. For others, it raised questions about authenticity in an industry where queerness is often commodified.

What remains undeniable is that Kendrick’s candidness—blending humor, vulnerability, and openness—solidified her bond with LGBTQ+ fans and reaffirmed her reputation as a performer unafraid to explore complexity, both on screen and off.

Would you like me to frame this piece more as a retrospective look at how her comments have aged since 2018, or as a cultural commentary on celebrity, sexuality, and queerbaiting?