Reese Witherspoon’s daughter, Ava Phillippe, recently opened up about her sexuality on Instagram, sparking positive reactions across social media.
Ava, the daughter of the Legally Blonde star, is one of three children Reese shares. She has Ava and son Deacon Phillippe from her previous marriage to actor Ryan Phillippe, and her youngest, Tennessee James Toth, from her marriage with ex-husband Jim Toth.
The 25-year-old has recently used her platform to speak openly about her identity, gaining widespread attention for her candid posts and inspiring words.
Ava Phillippe, who shares a striking resemblance to her famous mother, has often been in the spotlight due to her celebrity lineage. Recently, she made headlines after taking to Instagram to share her perspective on her romantic preferences.
When participating in a Q&A session with her followers, one fan asked about her dating preferences. Ava responded with a simple yet powerful message, stating:
“I’m attracted to… people!”
She further elaborated with a clarifying note in parentheses:
“Gender is whatever.”
While Ava didn’t label her sexuality outright, her words suggest a fluidity in her preferences, often described as pansexuality — a term used to express attraction to individuals regardless of their gender identity. According to GLAAD, pansexuality means being “attracted to all gender identities, or attracted to people regardless of gender.”
The internet swiftly reacted with an outpouring of support. Fans flooded her comments with messages of encouragement. One follower enthusiastically wrote, “Yaaaaaas! Welcome to the club, lovely!” Another commented, “Good for you! Beautiful just like your mom.”
A third supporter added, “Whatever you want to be is your business! I will support you no matter what.”
Ava has a history of making bold statements regarding her identity and personal beliefs. In the past, she has used her platform to advocate for kindness and respect, warning against hateful behavior. Addressing negativity online, she once stated:
“I can and will block profiles commenting bigoted or hateful messages under my posts. My Instagram profile is not a place for cruelty or hate speech, and I intend to do what I can to keep it that way. Peace and love.”
Her positive messaging continued this summer when Ava participated in Pride Month celebrations with a heartfelt post. Sharing a stunning selfie, she reflected on her earlier statements about sexuality, writing:
“Once upon a time, some gal on the internet said ‘gender is whatever’ in reference to her own sexuality. Many took her words out of context, but she knew what she meant. Anyways, this is her posting for the first day of Pride Month 2024.”
She also added a supportive message for the LGBTQ+ community, proudly declaring:
“Happy Pride Month to my LGBTQ+ community and… yes, even the haters in the comments.”
Ava’s openness has resonated beyond just her followers. Actress Alyssa Milano commented on the post, “This picture made me smile so big. Happy Pride!” TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney also joined in, writing, “So much love for you!”
It’s clear Ava has the full backing of her family as well. Her mother, Reese Witherspoon, who has publicly shared her commitment to supporting her children’s growth and self-discovery, also liked the heartfelt post.
In a previous interview, Reese reflected on raising her children in the spotlight and the challenges of fame. Speaking to InStyle magazine, she shared how Ava and her siblings had a very different upbringing from her own, given their exposure to public attention from a young age.
“It’s an odd situation because I didn’t grow up famous,” Reese explained. “So [Ava’s] living an experience I didn’t have, and so are my sons. But we’re lucky to have friends in Hollywood who can help guide them through it.”
She continued, emphasizing how proud she is of Ava’s strength and personal growth:
“Ava is so grounded. She genuinely wants to make a positive impact on the world.”
Despite her visibility, Ava has kept a relatively low profile regarding her relationships. She was previously linked to Owen Mahoney, a fellow student from UC Berkeley, with reports suggesting they had been together since 2019. However, Mahoney has been noticeably absent from her recent posts, leaving fans speculating about their current status.
Ava Phillippe’s bold self-expression and unwavering positivity have continued to inspire her growing fanbase, proving that she is carving her own path while embracing her authentic self.
