In a world where celebrity gossip spins out of control, two stars are caught in a whirlwind of rumors, not for their on-screen chemistry, but for the very lack of it.
Ashton Kutcher and Reese Witherspoon stand as classic examples. The duo, both committed to their respective partners, starred together in the romantic comedy “Your Place or Mine.” However, their appearance at the movie’s red carpet premiere sparked a wave of curiosity, as their camaraderie seemed, well, a bit off!
Sharing the limelight, the co-stars looked more like strangers than romantic leads. Kutcher seemingly maintaining a distance from Witherspoon raised several eyebrows. The blatant lack of intimacy, despite playing lovers in the film, left fans and onlookers puzzled.
“Your Place or Mine premiere/press photos have kept me laughing all day,” one Twitter user noted.
Another added, “Actors playing romantic leads should take lessons from Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain on promotional chemistry because… what is this?”
The reason behind Kutcher’s standoffish behavior? Fear of sparking off infidelity rumors. The actor was concerned that any display of affection could be misconstrued as an extramarital affair with his co-star, Witherspoon.
The controversial photos eventually caught the attention of Kutcher’s wife, Mila Kunis. Deciding to join the conversation, Kunis reached out to her husband and Witherspoon. Kutcher shared the details during an episode of the Chicks in the Office podcast. On February 6, 2023, Kunis messaged them both, urging, “Guys, you gotta, like, act like you like each other.”
Kutcher further elaborated on his thought process to the podcast audience. He held back from showing affection to Witherspoon not because he found her unattractive. On the contrary, he was fully aware of their on-screen allure. His primary concern was that their Hollywood chemistry could be mistaken for a scandalous off-screen love affair.
Kutcher opened up during the podcast, saying, “Here’s the thing: If I put my arm around her and was, like, all friendly with her, I’d be having an affair with her. The rumor would be that I’m having an affair with her.”
Kutcher explained his strategy for their red-carpet appearance. “If I stand next to her and I put my hands in my pockets, so there’s no chance that like, that could be the rumor, the rumor is we don’t like each other,” he added.
The actor didn’t intend to create an awkward environment between them. He was merely trying to avoid potential rumors that might threaten the trust in his marriage.
Despite the perceived awkwardness, Kutcher reassured that he and Witherspoon are “really good friends.” Hollywood chemistry, it appears, doesn’t always translate to red-carpet camaraderie, especially when there are reputations and relationships at stake.
Source: AWM
