Ava Phillippe, the daughter of Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, opened up about her sexuality in a heartfelt way during a Q&A on her Instagram. Asked whether she was attracted to boys or girls, she responded simply: “I’m attracted to … people! (Gender is whatever).” She deliberately avoided labeling herself, but her words strongly align with pansexuality, since she expresses attraction regardless of gender.
Ava has said that authenticity is very important to her, especially on social media. She often considers what her posts might mean to others — asking herself if sharing something is “helpful … important … charitable” — because she wants her platform to feel real and supportive.
Her openness hasn’t come without backlash. After her Q&A, Ava addressed hateful and bigoted comments she received. She made it clear that she won’t tolerate cruelty on her Instagram, writing that she “can & will block profiles commenting bigoted/hateful messages … My Instagram profile is not a place for cruelty/hate speech.”
In June 2024, to mark Pride Month, Ava posted a throwback photo of herself waving a rainbow flag. In the caption, she reaffirmed her earlier message, noting that while some people misunderstood her “gender is whatever” comment, she always knew what she meant.
Overall, Ava’s public discussion of her sexuality reflects a commitment to being honest and inclusive — rejecting rigid labels, embracing fluidity, and holding her online space to a standard of respect.
