Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth have announced their split, and it sounds like they’re likely already working out the terms of their divorce behind-the-scenes. Reese met Toth, a CAA agent, after she divorced Ryan Phillippe. Jim seemed like a very solid guy and a good stepfather to Reese’s kids Ava and Deacon. Jim and Reese went on to have a son together, Tennessee Toth, who is only 10 years old. While Jim was never front-and-center on red carpets with Reese, I was left with the impression that he was an important advisor for Reese as she began to build her own empire. Still, it’s been years since they even walked a carpet together, and it was like… she just phased him out or something. In 2021, she sold her production company Hello Sunshine for $900 million. And now a divorce? Oh, no.
Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth are breaking up. The Oscar winner, who turned 47 on Wednesday, and her talent-agent husband, 52, are ending their marriage, they announced in a joint statement on Friday, days before their 12-year wedding anniversary on Sunday.
“We have some personal news to share… It is with a great deal of care and consideration that we have made the difficult decision to divorce,” they said. “We have enjoyed so many wonderful years together and are moving forward with deep love, kindness and mutual respect for everything we have created together. Our biggest priority is our son and our entire family as we navigate this next chapter. These matters are never easy and are extremely personal. We truly appreciate everyone’s respect for our family’s privacy at this time.”
A source tells PEOPLE, “They really are the best of friends and this is such an amicable decision. They are so committed to co-parenting together. They are invested in their whole family and making this as smooth as possible for everyone.”
There are already stories about how Reese is a workaholic, because society must punish women for prioritizing their work or something. I mean, I think Reese works a lot too, but I doubt that was the “reason” for this. Sources told Page Six: “There’s no big scandal or drama, just two people who essentially became co-parents and don’t really have any romantic feelings for each other anymore.” Sources also said that Reese loved Jim because he was “just a solid, dependable guy” after her “years of sh-t” with Ryan. Which I agree – Reese and Ryan were chaotic at the best of times and he clearly had a chip on his shoulder about how famous she became. Jim was happy to be supportive in the background. Anyway, while this news surprised me… it wasn’t a shock. It feels like they’ve been living separate lives for a while. I kind of wonder if there was any breaking point – does one of them have a jumpoff? Eh.
PS… Since I know everyone will mention it, Jim and Reese were already married when they were both arrested in Georgia in 2013. Toth was arrested for DUI, and Reese was arrested for disorderly conduct for her drunken “I’m an American Citizen” rant.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid, Cover Images.
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- 133361, Reese Witherspoon spotted out with husband Jim Toth. Los Angeles, California – Friday February 27, 2015. GERMANY AUSTRIA SWITZERLAND OUT,Image: 531308592, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: Kai, PacificCoastNews / Avalon
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- Reese Witherspoon arrives on the red carpet of The 93rd Oscars® at Union Station in Los Angeles, CA on Sunday, April 25, 2021.,Image: 607900020, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: ©A.M.P.A.S. All rights reserved., Model Release: no, Credit line: TE / Avalon
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- LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – NOVEMBER 15: Actress Reese Witherspoon wearing a Michael Kors dress and Tiffany & Co. jewelry arrives at the 6th Annual InStyle Awards 2021 held at the Getty Center on November 15, 2021 in Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 643437488, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Reese Witherspoon, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
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- WESTWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – FEBRUARY 02: Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher arrive at the World Premiere Of Netflix’s ‘Your Place Or Mine’ held at Regency Village Theatre on February 2, 2023 in Westwood, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 753796800, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Reese Witherspoon, Ashton Kutcher, Credit line: David Acosta / Image Press Agency / Avalon
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- HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – FEBRUARY 23: American actress Reese Witherspoon wearing a Schiaparelli dress and Reza jewelry arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere Of Amazon Prime Video’s ‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ Season 1 held at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX on February 23, 2023 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 758398138, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Reese Witherspoon, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
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- New York, NY – Celebrities attend “Where The Crawdads Sing” premiere at Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Pictured: Reese Witherspoon BACKGRID USA 11 JULY 2022 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- USA/Australia/Canada Rights Only – Los Angeles, USA – 2/26/17 The Vanity Fair Oscar Party 2017 Celebrating the 89th Annual Academy Awards at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles, CA. -PICTURED: Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth -PHOTO by: David Nivere/ABACA USA/INSTARimages.com Editorial Rights Managed Image – Please contact www.INSTARimages.com for licensing fee and rights: North America Inquiries: email sales@instarimages.com or call 212.414.0207 – UK Inquiries: email ben@instarimages.com or call + 7715 698 715 – Australia Inquiries: email sarah@instarimages.com.au Êor call +02 9660 0500 Ð for any other Country, please email sales@instarimages.com. ÊImage or video may not be published in any way that is or might be deemed defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene / Please consult our sales department for any clarification or question you may have – http://www.INSTARimages.com reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this image or video. If you are in violation of our intellectual property you may be liable for actual damages, loss of income, and profits you derive from the use of this image or video, and where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or statutory damage. Featuring: Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth Where: Los Angeles, California, United States When: 26 Feb 2017 Credit: David Nivere/ABACA USA/INSTARimages.com **USA/Australia/Canada Rights Only**
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- USA/Australia/Canada Rights Only – Los Angeles, USA – 2/26/17 The Vanity Fair Oscar Party 2017 Celebrating the 89th Annual Academy Awards at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles, CA. -PICTURED: Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth -PHOTO by: David Nivere/ABACA USA/INSTARimages.com Editorial Rights Managed Image – Please contact www.INSTARimages.com for licensing fee and rights: North America Inquiries: email sales@instarimages.com or call 212.414.0207 – UK Inquiries: email ben@instarimages.com or call + 7715 698 715 – Australia Inquiries: email sarah@instarimages.com.au Êor call +02 9660 0500 Ð for any other Country, please email sales@instarimages.com. ÊImage or video may not be published in any way that is or might be deemed defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene / Please consult our sales department for any clarification or question you may have – http://www.INSTARimages.com reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this image or video. If you are in violation of our intellectual property you may be liable for actual damages, loss of income, and profits you derive from the use of this image or video, and where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or statutory damage. Featuring: Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth Where: Los Angeles, California, United States When: 26 Feb 2017 Credit: David Nivere/ABACA USA/INSTARimages.com **USA/Australia/Canada Rights Only**
Why did this news not register on my surprise meter?
Toth was a co-owner in Hello Sunshine and apparently liquidating that asset was all a part of getting their affairs in order and splitting assets. This has been in the works for years. Good for them for doing it quietly, under the radar, and without animus. Get on with your lives. Never marry again, just cohabitate. (Except look how well that worked out for Tiger Woods.)
Not surprising that they did it quietly. Besides that ignorant, selfish drunk driving episode, they both seem business-savvy. I agree with not bothering with marriage at this point.
That makes sense. When she sold it I was like… why? It was doing so well and she really seemed to enjoy it. She’ll be fine and I hope she enjoys being single.
I don’t have opinion on her or him, but I get the coparenting and romantic feelings no longer being there. Some are able to work on it and others are not. Hope it all works out for them. My concern is the 10 year old child. I know from experience a divorce creates instability if not handled correctly – also depends on the child. I wish them all the best.
When I was married and before my hubby died at age 53, (we had 25 years together before he passed away from COPD), I always made special time for him. We nurtured or relationship. Obviously these two didn’t. Hence, the divorce.
I’m so sorry for your loss. That’s a dreadful disease and heartbreaking to watch someone you love suffer like that.
Such a sad loss May Bench. But you’re right, you have to nurture a relationship all the time. Sounds like they became more like business partners than a deeply bonded couple.
Sometimes people just fall out of love. It happens, and it doesn’t mean anyone is a bad guy. I don’t think blaming that on a lack of “nurturing” is a particularly helpful nor healthy comment to make.
As I grow older I try not to pass judgement. It’s not easy but these two have not hurt anyone but themselves and their family. As far as nurturing their relationship, just as no two people are alike, no two relationships are alike. No one knows what goes on behind closed doors.
I’m sorry for your loss, but it’s kind of mean to suggest that people are getting divorced because they didn’t try hard enough. I’m sure they tried.
I’m pretty sure he moved out awhile ago and their son has somewhat adjusted to the new living arrangement. He has older siblings who are also a product of divorce that he can talk to. Tennessee will be fine.
I know this is a gossip site and we’re here for gossip, but I do love to see parents split quietly and amicably, and I hope they’re doing the same in private. Much easier on the kid when the parents are calm and happier.
All the best to the whole fam.
I’m in the middle of dealing with an asshole ex episode, so I know I’m bitter biased whatever, but if you believe in marriage and children enough to get married and have a child together, who do else do you want by your side other than your best friend that you deeply love and like co-parenting with? I truly don’t get it.
Because they probably have lead completely separate lives and have been miserable for a while-and maybe have been fighting-but are trying to spin it here for PR.
Because sometimes the romantic aspect of the relationship is gone and even though some might try to convince themselves that it isn’t necessary as long as you love each other and have a friendship, it is still important to maintain that romantic bond with your spouse. They may have lived close but separate lives where their romantic bond has been lost and they were just coexisting at a friendship level. They had no way of knowing what the future held for them but they seem to be doing their best to protect their children in all of this. I’ve seen her interactions with her kids and the interaction of her oldest kids with her youngest son and they seem to have a strong and supportive relationship to get through this together.
Sorry you’re having to go through this TwinFalls. Given that they’re both very career-driven, A-Type personalities, maybe they became more like business partners instead of loving partners, that’s a true romance-killer.
It’s always so sad when children are involved and you think about the family meeting they had to tell the kids about the divorce. It’s heartbreaking.
When I followed Reese on instagram, I always felt like her life it’s so exhausting. I think she’s a perfectionist and I felt sorry for her.
Some kids don’t want the divorce to happen, but I have talked to several kids at work who have wanted their parents divorce for years.
I talk to one seven-year-old right now who, honest to god, asks his mom why she doesn’t divorce “that guy?” The kid would like to get brunch with him now and then, but only if mom is also there to make sure it stays between the lanes, and that’s it.
I talked to another woman who was an adult at the time I knew her but she said that as a child, she would pray every single for night for her mom to divorce her deadbeat husband.
Most of the women I’ve talked to who are ok with getting divorced while there’s still a minor are confident that the dad will be a good dad, he was just a terrible husband.
Now the women I talk to who are white knuckling it until the kid is 18 or just graduated college, those are the really terrible men.
I used to wish and wish that my parents would just split up and stop fighting.
My family didn’t really have the resources for them to live separately, which would have solved pretty much everything that I could see from my perspective. IDK what all of it was about, but for a time one of them did try to serve divorce papers on the other, who hid. Eventually they figured something out and now (many years later) everything is sunshine and roses (or at least fine). But it was terrible for a while.
Do not stay together “for the kids” unless you are literally protecting them from a truly horrible individual. Even then! it’s at least as damaging as anything else that could happen.
I can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t wish my parents would divorce. They had huge fights every single weekend. My father would come home and scream at us (as I got older, I took more of the brunt of it) because the traffic had been bad, and then he’d be over it and wonder why we weren’t being cheerful like him. He was an alcoholic, emotionally abusive toward us both but mostly toward me, and sometimes physically abusive toward me as I got older too.
My mother never protected me. I realized after a VERY long time that it was because she used me as a shield. She stayed with him for money, and no, she would not have been destitute without him. She had a college degree and a good job, as well as an extended family who would have helped. We were white and middle class, so no one questioned anything.
Anyway. Staying together supposedly “for the kids” is likely to be a nightmare for the kids.
She seems like she would have very high standards and is always “on”. She seems exhausting to me, but to be fair, I know absolutely nothing about her husband. He may also be exhausting and the absolute worst.
I hope it works out okay for all involved, especially the kids.
I’m judging both of them by how they come off and he seems passive-aggressive and a little smarmy. Reese comes off demanding so I can see why it worked for a little while. Like I can see him being enamored with her at first and then that quickly turned to him being annoyed by her. DM is running a story that he was having a midlife crisis and getting odd tattoos and dressing differently. I can believe that as well.
This split surprised me but I also noticed they seemed to live separately for the last two or so years. Even selling the family home in March 2020.
They definitely seem to have separated a while back, and got all their ducks in a row.
Page Six and People already have sources from camp Reese about how Jim’s changed in the last few years and is possibly having a midlife crisis: there was no longer any passion or romance between them, he quite CAA, fronted Quibi which shut down in less than a year, sold Hello Sunshine for a billion, he started getting tats, wearing weird clothes of a man half his age and chunky jewellery 😂 their words.
Reading between the lines, what does this mean? Hahaha. Is he going to come out? Is he full punk now? Is she announcing now because she’s ready to move on with a new man, or was there a photo leak?
Reese is so savvy and keeps a clean and tight ship. Which is why I find this situation particularly juicy.
I’m totally here for developments.
Yes-I’ve been waiting on this announcement since they started selling off their houses. And his arms are fully covered with tattoos now-not exactly her image. I wonder what the full story is . . .
There are stories coming out of him being solely responsible as he is having a midlife crisis, not sure how amicable its going to stay
Same here, I knew this was gonna happen. He’s had huge recent upheavals in his working life the past several years and that effects both sexes but maybe men a little more than women. Going from being one of the top agents in Hollywood to being an executive for Quiby which was a spectacular failure after a year, to working for hello sunshine full time.They probably sold the company for that very reason – to split assets. Plus all the selling off of their real estate in LA plus renting a mansion in Brentwood a few years ago (probably his bachelor space) at the same time? This seems like it was a few years in the works at least.
Quite a contrast to the still smouldering dumpster fire of Alice Evans refusal to divorce and move on with her own life!
They both strike me as workaholics.
I have zero interest in hearing any dirt.
Protect the 10 year old, keep him safe and loved and that’s all I’ve got.
I hope what people are saying here is true, that they’ve been separated and liquidating joint assets for a while. That makes it more likely this will be a quiet and dignified separation.
The tattoos and jewelry or whatever could be his version of reinventing himself as a single man, rather than some weird transformation he started going through during the marriage. That’s my hope, at least.
Agree — the reinventing himself has a Ben Affleck-ish vibe to it, i.e. getting that ginormous phoenix tattoo on his back. She’s a workaholic and very tightly controlled, maybe he’s just going to take a time-out from a hectic and stressful career to just chill for a while.
Reese has been a passionate promoter of Eve Rodsky’s “Fair Play” book and method of sharing domestic responsibility (an incredible system BTW). I don’t think you can be so passionate about it unless you have experienced a serious inequity in your home life and relationship. The fact that they are separating makes me think she hasn’t felt like an equal partner and has had enough.
Yes I agree! Fair Play is opening a lot of women’s eyes that basic needs are not getting met, that in some cases it’s easier to single parent /divorce than cohabitate and watch someone downplay your needs and those of your kids. Some of the husbands in that book were pitiful and if any woman could see that behavior in their husband (letting trash pile up, calling to see if the kids needed meals?!?), talk about it, and still not see change then it’s a death knell at that point.
To announce divorce after your birthday and days before your wedding anniversary is a choice.
I wonder if he got someone else pregnant?
That’s so odd but wasn’t there a blind item that he wanted more kids with Reese after having Tennessee but she said no?
What resonated with me was that she wanted a “dependable” guy after the cheating and jealousy of Ryan Phillipe. I totally get that. Sorry for the family, but I agree that they are and will handle it well. Best to all.
Both Reese and Jim are heavyweights in Hollywood and know how to control their image.
This split won’t be messy, there are no accidents, and the divorce is being managed with precision.
I’m pretty sure the stories about ‘Jim’s mid life crisis’ is part of a planned strategy to stop people speculating.
When Reese and Ryan split, the main story was Ryan’s disdain for his wife’s success and him cheating with Abby Cornish.
This lead to Reese being blamed for emasculating him, being too rigid, being a workaholic and not fulfilling Ryan’s needs. Which is patriarchal crap because we know Ryan is a moody, controlling and abusive man.
Anyhow, it’s not hard to imagine Reese and Jim worked out the messaging during settlement negotiations, and he would take a dumb blow such as ‘midlife crisis’ as opposed to what really happened, in exchange for a chunk of change, in an effort to give Reese some dignity this time around.
Yet still, the lame stories of ‘Reese is a perfectionist and works too hard’ still prevail 🙁
That’s an interesting take on it. I remember how the press was all over the Abby Cornish angle. he had been filming with her right before they split and she was introduced to America as his new girlfriend. I was glad when Reese
started dating Jake G although it would have been a repeat of Ryan as we now know of his predilection for younger women. At the time it was good for Reese getting that younger guy.
Is this why Ashton Kutcher was so awkward during their premiere? He didn’t want to be called out as the “reason” for the split?