Reese Witherspoon reveals friendship ended after a-list star felt ‘Roasted’ at award show
Hollywood actress Reese Witherspoon has confessed that a lighthearted attempt at humour led to the end of a friendship with a fellow A-list star. The oscar-winning actress admitted that an awards speech, intended to be playful, backfired spectacularly, leaving her estranged from her former friend.
Speaking alongside her co-star will ferrell during an interview with PEOPLE to promote their new film You’re cordially invited, the big little lies star shared how the incident “literally haunts” her to this day.
Recalling the unfortunate event, witherspoon, 48, explained that the unnamed actress had personally asked her to present an award at a prestigious and sophisticated british ceremony. However, misjudging the occasion’s tone, witherspoon believed a comedic roast would be appropriate.
“So this friend of mine, who I didn’t really know that well but she was a very serious, proper actress, she asked me to give her an award,” Witherspoon said. “I got up and roasted her,” she admitted, adding: “I was like, ‘Remember the time we got laser hair removal?’ I’m still embarrassed about it.”
Unfortunately, her humour did not go down well with either the audience or the honouree. “I thought it was so funny, and it was just, I had the wrong audience. It was pretty bad,” the Legally Blonde actress admitted. “Yeah. Not even kidding, she doesn’t talk to me anymore. Oh well.”
Despite the awkward fallout, witherspoon appeared to take the situation in stride, joking, “I’m not even kidding—we’re not friends anymore. I think she doesn’t like me anymore. But hey, it happens!”
The revelation comes as Witherspoon stars in you’re cordially invited, a prime video comedy that follows the chaos of two weddings accidentally booked at the same venue on the same day. Ironically, her character margot delivers a cringeworthy speech in the film, a moment that mirrors her real-life blunder.
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The film, which was released on 30th January, has received mixed reviews, currently sitting at 44 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes.
While Witherspoon has not disclosed the name of the actress involved, speculation online initially pointed to british star kate winslet. Fans noted that witherspoon had honoured the Titanic actress at the BAFTA/LA cunard britannia awards in november 2007, fuelling rumours that winslet was the offended party.
However, witherspoon was quick to shut down the speculation, taking to Instagram Stories to clarify that there was no truth to the rumours. “Hey guys .. just spoke to my very dear friend for years, Kate W. We laughed about this stupidity. Please do not believe the internet,” she wrote, according to PEOPLE. “We are good friends and have never had any falling out.”
The mother-of-two further emphasised: “This is completely UNTRUE … so silly!”
While the mystery of the unnamed actress remains unsolved, Witherspoon’s candid confession serves as a reminder of how even the best intentions can sometimes be lost in translation—especially in the world of Hollywood’s elite.
