Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe Split: Witnessed

Reese and Ryan Split: Witnessed

By Roger Friedman


I hate to say it, but I actually witnessed the split between Ryan Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon. The Hollywood couple officially called it quits Monday.

But two weeks ago, they came to the opening night party for Ryan's performance in Clint Eastwood's "Flags of Our Fathers." It was not a pretty scene. Reese was packing away cosmos and chatting happily with just about anyone, but it was clear she was peeved about something.

The party took place in the rooftop penthouse suites of the Soho Grand Hotel, and what I saw next was something I decided not to print at the time. The couple went out on the roof terrace and had a knock-down, drag-out fight. It looked like something from "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

My line of vision was partially blocked by a big exhaust pipe, so at different times during the fight they were obscured. But then Ryan would appear, disgusted, on one side of it, and Reese on the other.

Suddenly, Reese stormed back inside, crossed past me and headed for the elevator. Ryan followed in hot pursuit. Thus, their security guards assigned for the night went running after them, thinking that they were leaving.

After a couple of minutes, though, clearer heads prevailed. The couple came back from the elevator with security in tow. Perhaps they'd forgotten that many members of Ryan's family, including his grandmother, were still in the room, oblivious to what was going on.

All of this was alluded to in our Oct. 17 column. I referred to their marriage as "tempestuous," trying to err on the side of good manners. It was obvious from their heated exchanges that the couple was in trouble. But no one really knows what goes inside a marriage; maybe fighting was part of their deal.

In retrospect, however, Ryan and Reese already knew it was over when they came to the "Flags of Our Fathers" party. They had already committed to it, and Phillippe's family wanted some kind of celebration.

The sad thing is they are both nice people. But they are also young; Ryan is 32, Reese just 30. They could never have calculated her stratospheric success.

But actresses tend to hit their stride early, with tougher times after 40. For men, it's the opposite. In five years, Ryan could be a perennial best actor nominee.

But the early 30s — with the exception of Leonardo DiCaprio, thanks to "Titanic" — is the hunker-down time for most young actors. They're too young for the good roles and too old for the teen ones.

I'm sure the tabs will be full of stories of infidelity. This column has already gotten calls about it. But I think, in the end, there are no villains for Ryan Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon. It was just too much too soon.

Re: Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe Split: Witnessed

I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THIS:

Re: Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe Split: Witnessed

that's so sad, I honestly thought they were so grounded.

I believe that first, they both were too young when they got married and most likely, her success bruised his ego.
Men need to feel in control and know that they can support their families on their own and in this situation, it probably wasn't the case.

Re: Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe Split: Witnessed

I was saddened by this too. I hate to see these couples break up when I think they have what it takes to get through it, no matter how hard. I know these two have worked on their marriage a lot so who am I to say they need to work harder but it just seems so many people quit when you just have to get through it no matter how hard. Of course IF he was cheating than I don't blame her one iota!

Re: Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe Split: Witnessed

This made me sad ....

I liked them together

Re: Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe Split: Witnessed

I told my dh this and he can't understand why a man would be jealous of his wife doing well in life. He would have NO problem with me making millions!!

Re: Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe Split: Witnessed

Posted by hazeleyes33

I told my dh this and he can't understand why a man would be jealous of his wife doing well in life. He would have NO problem with me making millions!!

Re: Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe Split: Witnessed

I always thought they were so good together - oh well, what the hell do I know???

Re: Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe Split: Witnessed

i genuinely feel bad for them - they always seemed so put together - maybe it was all a front - it is not surprising that they are splitting though

Re: Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe Split: Witnessed

UPDATE FROM THE POST
RYAN Phillippe's cruel intentions to cheat on wife Reese Witherspoon brought an end to their glam Hollywood marriage, Us magazine reports. The "Flags of Our Fathers" star couldn't resist his seven-year itch when he brazenly played around in public with 24-year-old Aussie actress Abbie Cornish. "Ryan admitted it was true and said, 'We need to just end this.' Reese literally had no choice," an anonymous source told Us. Reps for Phillippe, 32, and Oscar winner Witherspoon, 30, announced Monday they're splitting up after seven years of matrimony. Their reps could not be reached for comment last night. Phillippe and Cornish allegedly grew close in Austin, Texas, on and off the set of their indie flick, "Stop Loss." Other sources have pointed to a different castmate. "We're a little bit devastated and heartbroken," mom Susan Phillippe said. The National Enquirer says the final straw came two weeks ago, hours after the New York premiere of "Flags," when Witherspoon found incriminating e-mails on her hubby's BlackBerry.