Actor Ryan Phillippe's relationship with his daughter Ava Phillippe has reportedly become strained, with insiders suggesting that Phillippe has taken a 'back seat' in his daughter's life following his divorce from Reese Witherspoon. Sources indicate that Jim Toth, Witherspoon's second husband, played a more significant fatherly role in Ava's upbringing.
Witherspoon and Toth, who married in 2011 and welcomed a son, Tennessee, in 2012, divorced in 2023. Despite the divorce, Toth is described by sources as having been a "really good father figure" to Ava and her brother Deacon, playing a large part in raising them during their formative years. Ava was reportedly very close to Toth, especially given the "tense" relationship between her parents during her early childhood.
While Witherspoon and Phillippe have achieved an amicable co-parenting status, their adult children, Ava and Deacon, appear to have drifted from their father. Phillippe's social media posts featuring Ava reportedly dwindled after her 19th birthday. The period coincided with a 2018 lawsuit filed by Phillippe's ex-girlfriend, Elsie Hewitt, who accused him of assault. Although Phillippe denied the allegations and the lawsuit was settled out of court in 2019, reports suggest it created a rift between him and Ava, who is an advocate for issues including LGBTQ+ rights.
In contrast, Phillippe has maintained a close relationship with his son, Deacon, frequently appearing together on social media. However, recent family events, such as Deacon's New York University graduation in May, have seen Ava and Phillippe presenting a united front to support their brother, even as Ava reportedly does not follow her father on Instagram. Sources state that Phillippe has made efforts to repair his relationship with Ava, but reciprocation has been lacking, and their bond is described as "not what it used to be."
Meanwhile, Reese Witherspoon has been publicly linked with German financier Oliver Haarmann since July 2024. The couple has been seen together at events, including the premiere of her series "Elle." Haarmann, a former partner at a global investment firm and a minority co-owner of the NHL's New York Islanders, has an estimated net worth of $440 million. Witherspoon reportedly appreciates Haarmann's less Hollywood-centric lifestyle, a contrast to her previous husbands who were in the entertainment industry. Sources say Haarmann has been introduced to Witherspoon's children, who are described as being protective of their mother and having a "tight-knit" family bond. Haarmann was not in attendance at Deacon's graduation, where Witherspoon and Phillippe were seen interacting amicably while supporting their son.