Reese Witherspoon’s daughter Ava allegedly estranged from father Ryan Phillippe: Report

TW: Mentions of violence

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They once made headlines as Hollywood's golden couple, but behind the scenes, Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe's family life tells a more complicated story. The two actors, who share two children, Ava and Deacon, were once praised for their close-knit family dynamic. Ava, in particular, has been described as a 'perfect mix' of her famous parents, with Ryan frequently calling her 'inspiring' and 'beyond, in terms of conscientiousness and maturity.' But things have changed now.

According to reports from Daily Mail and People, the actor's past controversy with ex-girlfriend Elsie Hewitt may have left lasting impact, particularly on Ava.

How did Ryan Phillippe's relationship with Ava sour?

According to Daily Mail, the relationship between Ryan Phillippe and his daughter Ava Phillippe has reportedly been strained for several years. A source claimed that Ava, now 25, is 'estranged from her dad out of choice' and has not seen him in two years. The source added:

She has no contact with him and rarely mentions him. Ryan hasn't been a present father figure in her life for years.

Their bond was not always this distant. In past interviews and social media posts, Ryan often praised Ava, calling her his 'little star' and 'the most beautiful daughter a father could ever have.' He also credited Ava with helping him through his divorce from Reese. In 2007, Ryan told The Ellen DeGeneres Show:

As difficult as it is, my daughter has been the inspiration.

However, insiders suggest the turning point came in 2018 following allegations made against Ryan by his ex-girlfriend, Elsie Hewitt. Daily Mail's source alleges that these accusations had a profound impact on Ava, who is known for her advocacy work around body positivity, mental health, and LGBTQ+ rights. The insider told Daily Mail:

Things really soured in 2018 around the time he was accused of abuse by his ex,

Her issue with Ryan is his treatment of women which she finds appalling.

While Ryan still maintains a close relationship with his son Deacon, Ava reportedly 'doesn't follow Ryan on social media anymore' and 'has no interest in the relationship he shares with her brother.'

Their last public appearance together was in April 2023 at Deacon's debut album release party in West Hollywood, where they were both present but not photographed together. Ava is also said to have found a supportive father figure in Reese Witherspoon's second husband, Jim Toth.

This complicated father-daughter dynamic appears to have been shaped by multiple factors, but the controversy surrounding Ryan played a significant role.

What were the allegations against Ryan Phillippe?

The allegations that reportedly caused a rift between Ryan and Ava stem from a 2017 lawsuit filed by Ryan's ex-girlfriend, model Elsie Hewitt. As reported by People, Hewitt accused Ryan of assaulting her after a party where he felt ignored by her.

She claimed he kicked, punched, and threw her down the stairs during an altercation in the early hours of July 4, 2017.

According to People, Hewitt also accused Ryan of substance abuse, alleging that he used drugs, alcohol, and steroids, which contributed to mood swings and anger issues. Ryan vehemently denied all allegations, stating via his representative:

Domestic violence is a very real and tragic issue faced by many women the world over and should never be used to vengefully slander or as a ploy for monetary gain.

This is wrong. This is not who I am. Every one of my accuser’s allegations are false.

Despite the seriousness of the claims, People reported that the criminal investigation was closed in September 2017. The lawsuit was eventually settled out of court in 2019 for an undisclosed amount. Ryan continued to maintain his innocence, stating on Twitter that he was 'saddened and disgusted' by the accusations.

Regardless of the legal outcome, insiders told Daily Mail that the allegations negatively affected Ava's view of her father, making reconciliation difficult.

What happened between Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe?

According to Daily Mail, they met at Reese's 21st birthday party in 1997 and married in 1999 while Reese was pregnant with Ava.

However, the couple's marriage faced challenges early on. Reese admitted on the We Are Supported By podcast in 2021:

I did not have a lot of support with my first baby and I learned really early, like, this is not going to work.

She described the early months of motherhood as isolating:

I tried to muscle through for five months with Ava, just not sleeping and I became delirious. I was lucky enough to have money saved and I didn't have to work, but it's just not a one-person job. I would even say it's not a two-person job.

The couple welcomed their son Deacon in 2003 but announced their separation in 2006. Their divorce was finalised in 2008. Despite their split, The List reported that Reese and Ryan have maintained a functional co-parenting relationship. Ryan told Fox News in 2024:

We never spoke ill of each other and we were always united in support of them.

While their marriage may have ended, their commitment to their children remained steadfast. Reese told Lorraine in 2017 that marrying young contributed to their eventual split:

What do you do when you get to 40 and you made a decision when you were 25 to get married and have kids? I got married when I was 23 and I had two kids by the time I was 27.

Today, Reese Witherspoon has moved on from her second marriage to Jim Toth and is reportedly dating financier Oliver Haarmann, according to Daily Mail. Meanwhile, Ryan has been focusing on his sobriety. In September 2023, he celebrated a milestone on Instagram, writing: