Bitter feud between Reese Witherspoon’s daughter Ava and her dad Ryan Phillippe laid bare… as insiders reveal shocking reason she refuses to talk to him

She’s previously been described as a ‘perfect mix’ of her famous parents Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe.

But that resemblance seems to be the only thing Ava Phillippe, 25, shares with her actor father these days.

The Daily Mail can reveal that Ava is ‘estranged from her dad out of choice’ and has not seen the 50-year-old in two years.

‘She has no contact with him and rarely mentions him,’ a source says. ‘Ryan hasn’t been a present father figure in her life for years.’

But the pair’s relationship hasn’t always been so strained – with past interviews and social media posts speaking of their ‘inspiring’ bond.

So what went wrong? 

The source says the Cruel Intentions actor, 50, ‘hasn’t been a present father figure in [Ava’s] life for years’

Ava was born on September 9, 1999, less than a year after her parents starred in the iconic teen movie Cruel Intentions and got married.

Ryan has since claimed that the day his daughter was born was the day he ‘learned what love truly is’.

In 2014, he described how he had raced by helicopter from Utah, where he was shooting thriller The Way Of The Gun, to Beverly Hills for her birth.

‘With my stomach in knots, exhausted & dirty, covered in syrupy fake blood & shards of candy glass the heli[copter] found the pad and I was taken to an area to sterilize myself,’ he posted on X.

‘I made it to my then wife’s bedside w/ two hours to spare before my baby girl first entered the world. Fifteen years ago I learned what love truly is.’

However Reese, 49, has told a different story, suggesting she felt abandoned by Ryan during those early months.

‘I did not have a lot of support with my first baby and I learned really early, like, this is not going to work,’ the actress told the We Are Supported By podcast in 2021.

‘I tried to muscle through for five months with Ava, just not sleeping and I became delirious. I was lucky enough to have money saved and I didn’t have to work, but it’s just not a one-person job. I would even say it’s not a two-person job.’ 

Ava is reportedly ‘appalled’ by Ryan’s ‘treatment of women’ after he was accused by ex-girlfriend Elsie Hewitt of abuse in 2017

Reese and Ryan first met at her 21st birthday party, which took place in March 1997. They were married from 1999 to 2008 (pictured August 24, 1998)

They had their son Deacon in 2003, but announced they were splitting up three years later. 

Ryan went on to describe their break-up as the ‘toughest time in my life’, but credited Ava with getting him through it. 

‘As difficult as it is, my daughter has been the inspiration,’ he told The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2007. 

‘She is beyond, in terms of conscientiousness and maturity, and she has gotten me through this. I know it sounds pathetic – I’m a 32-year-old guy, but my seven-year-old daughter is getting me through the toughest time in my life, and that’s beautiful too.’

Since their divorce was finalized in 2008, Reese and Ryan have maintained a stable co-parenting relationship – with Ryan gushing about his tight-knit relationship with Ava in multiple Instagram posts.

On her 18th birthday in 2017, he described Ava as the ‘most beautiful daughter a father could ever have’ in a heartfelt Instagram caption.

The following year, he posted a photo of her having dinner with the caption: ‘My little star on her birthday. Love you, punk.’ 

But that was the last time Ryan posted a solo shot of his daughter to Instagram – and our source suggests that timing is important. 

Ryan has previously gushed over his daughter Ava in past interviews and social media posts, once describing her as the ‘most beautiful daughter a father could ever have’

At the release of Deacon’s debut record in April 2023 Ryan and Ava were not snapped together

Less than 12 months earlier, Ryan’s ex-girlfriend Elsie Hewitt had accused him of assault in a $1 million lawsuit.

The former Playboy model, who is now in a relationship with comedian Pete Davidson, claimed that Ryan came to her house in Los Angeles and threw her down the stairs before ‘kicking and striking’ her.

She also claimed in the legal filing that he used drugs, alcohol and steroids, which caused mood swings and extreme anger.

Ryan denied the allegations and emphasized his support for ‘women’s rights, feminism and advocacy’.

The lawsuit was settled out of court in 2019, just days before they were set to go to trial for an undisclosed amount. 

Although the actor has continued to deny the allegations, our source says they had an impact on Ava – who has been an outspoken advocate on issues like body positivity, mental health awareness, and LGBTQ+ rights.

‘Things really soured in 2018 around the time he was accused of abuse by his ex,’ the insider adds. ‘Her issue with Ryan is his treatment of women which she finds appalling.’

While Ryan remains close with Deacon, our source says: ‘Ava doesn’t follow Ryan on social media any more, and she has no interest in the relationship he shares with her brother.’

Indeed, the pair reportedly haven’t seen each other since April 2023 when they attended the release party for Deacon’s debut album. 

While they were both pictured at the event in West Hollywood, there were no photos of father and daughter together.

Ava, pictured with her mom in 2021, went on to find another ‘father figure’ in her mom’s second husband 

Reese married her second husband, talent agent Jim Toth, in March 2011 but they divorced in 2023

But our source adds that Ava, who is now a model and artist, found another ‘father figure’ in her mother’s second husband, Jim Toth. 

Reese began a relationship with the talent agent in January 2010, and they were engaged by the end of the year.

Ava, who was 11 at the time, was the maid of honor at the couple’s wedding in March 2011. Deacon, who was seven, was the ring bearer at the nuptials which took place on Reese’s ranch in California.

The couple went on to have a son Tennessee James Toth – Reese’s third child – in September 2012 but divorced in 2023.

However, our source says that Ava still appreciates the role Jim played in her upbringing, adding: ‘Ava looked at Jim as more of a father figure as he helped to raise her. Ryan hasn’t been a present father figure in her life for years.’

While it is unclear if Ava will ever salvage a relationship with her biological father, it seems Ryan has been working towards getting clean. 

In September 2023, he celebrated a sobriety milestone, writing on Instagram that it was ‘officially the longest I’ve gone since I was a teen without some kind of nicotine or marijuana in my system (among other things)’.

He added: ‘Feeling thankful for the freedom that comes with breaking addictions and dependency on substance. Sobriety, clarity, and spiritual connectedness feels real good.’

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Ryan, Reese and Ava for comment.