Reese’s shock at Ryan’s arrest
He’s facing some serious allegations and she’s not happy
It was meant to be her big moment, but Reese Witherspoon’s recent Emmy celebrations (her show Big Little Lies took home five awards) was cut short after news that her ex-husband and father of her two eldest children, Ryan Phillippe, had been accused of assault.
Ryan’s ex-girlfriend, 21-yearold model Elsie Hewitt, claims the actor attacked her after she went to pick up her belongings following their split in July. In the $1million lawsuit, Elsie claims Ryan, 43, threw her down the stairs, which she says left her with “chest pain, severe bruising and abrasions”. Elsie alleges that Ryan was drunk at the time, and was frequently abusing legal and illegal drugs, and alcohol. Ryan vehemently denies the claims, insisting she’s a gold-digger, but Elsie’s lawyer, Keith Fink, says his client isn’t out for the money. “She’s not going to take a dime,” he’s said. “[If she wins] the money is going to a domestic violence charity.”
And, according to our source, Reese, 41, is finding the situation seriously stressful. “She can’t believe she just won an Emmy for Big Little Lies – a drama that tackles domestic violence – only to wake up to these allegations,” an insider tells heat. “Of course, she’s horrified – although she’s not making any judgments.
“However, she has told Ryan that everything he does reflects on Ava, and Deacon. She’s extremely protective of the kids and is furious that they’re having to deal with the fallout from this. They’re old enough to know what’s going on and they have a close relationship with their dad. If he was found guilty of this sort of behaviour, it would have a huge impact on them.”
Now, Reese – who split from Ryan in 2006 and has a five-year-old son, Tennessee, with second husband Jim Toth – is laying down some rules for Ryan. “They’ve always been amicable, but Reese has told him he’s got to up his game, even though he’s told her it’s all rubbish,” our source continues. “Her main priority will always be her children – their happiness and wellbeing comes first.”
What happens next is anyone’s guess, but one thing’s for sure, Ryan’s ex-fiancée Paulina Slagter, who dated him for five years, isn’t likely to be a shoulder for him to cry on. After the news broke, the law graduate tweeted, “When there’s smoke…” ■