‘Hot and drenched in angst’: Ryan Phillippe’s rare statement about Reese Witherspoon marriage

Ryan Phillippe has given a rare public statement about his marriage to ex-wife Reese Witherspoon when the pair were in their early 20s.

Ryan Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon. Picture: D. Kambouris/WireImage

Ryan Phillippe is going down memory lane.

The US actor made the rare move of posting a throwback photo with Reese Witherspoon via his Instagram Stories Monday.

“We were hot and drenched in late ’90s angst,” the actor, 49, wrote before tagging his ex-wife in the 2001 snap from the Legally Blonde premiere. “(such a cooler time than today),” he added.

The former couple, who were married from 1999 to 2008, stood with their arms around each other in the shot.

Witherspoon, 48, had a bob at the time and paired a black-and-white striped halter dress with a red lip.

Ryan and Reese at the Legally Blonde premiere in July 2001. Picture: D. Kambouris/WireImage

Ryan described them as “hot and drenched in late 90s angst.” Picture: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock

Phillippe, for his part, rocked a similarly striped V-neck — but in blue — and completed his look with Ray-Ban sunglasses and black pants.

He posted a second shot in the same eyewear and a suit, captioning that social media upload with a rock-on emoji.

The exes met at Witherspoon’s 21st birthday party in 1997, going on to co-star in Cruel Intentions two years later.

During their nine-year marriage, the duo welcomed daughter Ava, now 24, and son Deacon, now 20, in 1999 and 2003, respectively.

The high-profile couple split in 2008. Picture: REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/Files

He posted a second shot in the same eyewear and a suit, captioning that social media upload with a rock-on emoji.

The pair have put on a united co-parenting front over the years, most recently reuniting at their youngest child’s album release party in April 2023.

Phillippe turns 50 later this year. Picture: Getty

Witherspoon later married – and divorced – talent agent Jim Toth. Picture: Getty Images

Both Witherspoon and Phillippe have welcomed other children post-divorce, with the latter sharing daughter Kai, 12, with Alexis Knapp.

As for the actress, Witherspoon is the mother of 11-year-old son Tennessee with her ex-husband Jim Toth.

She and Toth, 53, tied the knot in 2011 in California and called it quits last year.

While the Oscar winner was subsequently linked to newly-single Kevin Costner, her rep clarified exclusively to Page Six that reports of the romance were “false.”

As for Toth, the talent agent appeared to take a romantic Costa Rica holiday with a mystery woman in July 2023.

This story originally appeared on Page Six and is republished here with permission

Originally published as ‘Hot and drenched in angst’: Ryan Phillippe’s rare statement about Reese Witherspoon marriage