This was going to be a funny blind item, but Just Jared already solved it. Reese Witherspoon is currently promoting You’re Cordially Invited, alongside Will Ferrell. They’ve been doing press all week, and at one point, Reese revealed one of her most “haunting” moments as an actress/celebrity. Basically, she thought she was being invited to roast one of her actress friends, but really, Reese was supposed to be giving a speech about how her actress friend is an amazing person at a very fancy awards ceremony.
Reese Witherspoon can’t quite get over one cringe-worthy speech from her past. In an interview with PEOPLE for her new comedy You’re Cordially Invited with Will Ferrell, the Oscar winner, 48, says she is “haunted” by a speech she once delivered for a famous actress at an award ceremony.
“It literally haunts me,” says Witherspoon, adding, “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. But I had never been to this award ceremony, so I thought it was like a roast. So I got up and I roasted her.”
Witherspoon says the event was “British,” “elegant” and “classy” and that she got the tone completely wrong while cracking jokes in her speech.
“I was like, ‘Remember the time we got laser hair removal?’ ” she recalls. “I’m still embarrassed about it.”
Witherspoon says actress, whom she doesn’t name, stopped talking to her. “We’re not friends anymore. I’m not even kidding — we’re not friends anymore” she says with a laugh. “I think she doesn’t like me anymore. I thought it was so funny and it was just, I had the wrong audience. It was pretty bad. Yeah. Not even kidding, she doesn’t talk to me anymore. Oh well.”
A proper British actress who is probably close in age to Reese, one would assume. It wasn’t a huge blind item, but I love that Just Jared solved it – they figured out that the British actress is Kate Winslet and they even found the transcript of Reese’s speech at the BAFTA/LA Cunard Britannia Awards in November 2007. It’s hilarious, honestly – Reese was truly roasting the sh-t out of Winslet. LMAO!!
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
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- HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – APRIL 27: Reese Witherspoon arrives at the 49th Annual AFI (American Film Institute) Lifetime Achievement Award Gala Tribute Celebrating Nicole Kidman held at the Dolby Theatre on April 27, 2024 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 868589403, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Reese Witherspoon, Credit line: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon
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- HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – APRIL 27: Reese Witherspoon arrives at the 49th Annual AFI (American Film Institute) Lifetime Achievement Award Gala Tribute Celebrating Nicole Kidman held at the Dolby Theatre on April 27, 2024 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 868589495, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Reese Witherspoon, Credit line: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon
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- Apple TV+ Emmy Party Red Carpet at the Mother Wolf on September 15, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA,Image: 908298675, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Reese Witherspoon, Credit line: Nicky Nelson/Wenn/Avalon
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- New York Screening Of ‘You’re Cordially Invited’ At Jazz At Lincoln centre Featuring: Reese Witherspoon Where: United States When: 29 Jan 2025 Credit: Darla Khazei/INSTARimages
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- New York Screening Of ‘You’re Cordially Invited’ At Jazz At Lincoln centre Featuring: Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon Where: United States When: 29 Jan 2025 Credit: Darla Khazei/INSTARimages
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- Reese Witherspoon on ‘Good Morning America’ to talk about new movie ‘You’re Cordially Invited’ Featuring: Reese Witherspoon Where: New York, United States When: 29 Jan 2025 Credit: Roger Wong/INSTARimages
Did she not think to ask Kate Winslet what kind of event it was and what the tone of the introduction should be like? Also is that event televised or not? Because if it’s televised she easily could have looked up other intro segments for that ceremony online! It just reads as lazy and not doing your homework right.
I’ve always gotten a southern Mean Girl vibe from Reese so this doesn’t really surprise me.
My thoughts exactly. I seriously doubt Reese genuinely thought the event was a roast.
Also, it took place in 2007. She or her assistant could have googled it and discovered what was expected.
Shades of Legally Blonde and showing up at the college party in a bunny costume. She should reach out again.
Hot tip: anytime an actor is called “America’s Sweetheart” or the like…they’re not IRL. (Reese included.)
Not exactly surprised at Reese going ahead and doing a roast without getting any further details ahead of time. We all know how she handled herself when her husband got stopped for that DUI.
I will watch regardless, I need something to take my mind off things. It’s gotten so bad that the (for now) opposition party has managed to get an initiative passed in parliament with the backing of the fascists.
I get mean girl vibes from Reese and head girl vibes from Kate (they are v similar with slight cultural differences) so I’m not surprised the two eventually fell out. I think they are both ruthless, competitive people who are good actresses and capable as coming across as relatable most of the time. Occasionally the masks slip.
Nothing says insecure more than commenting successful woman who has track record of prioritizing working with other women is mean.
I am sorry, I do not believe this. She meant to do it at the time. Now maybe she would not because she grew up. She always strike as a mean girl. I could be to totally wrong and be will be happy to bw wrong
I like Will Ferrell, and I feel badly for Kate Winslet. I also feel like Reese Witherspoon went too far, and also have sympathy for the fact that she was in the midst of breaking up with Ryan Phillippe. He was abusive.
Nope, not buying it. Aren’t BAFTA awards shows a very serious affair? And don’t actresses have speeches prepared for this? Come on…
BAFTA/LA event/award was/is like a networking, social event, mainly to promote British Films/TV industry in Hollywood. (More like a cocktail event.) I don’t know about in recent years, but I don’t believe it has live broadcasting of the Awards/event. I would see print articles & photos from the event, not sure if there’s any YouTube vid out from this event.
Yes, Reese really should’ve done some homework to get to know this event, and she worked in film and has been nominated for her acting, so not knowing what BAFTA/LA is about was just……
Hey, thanks for the info! It doesn’t make sense Witherspoon would see this as a roast.
Confusing. Were they friends or not to start?
I was working at a popular store at the Grove 20 years ago. Reese came in and shopped. She was in my department when she was ready to buy, so I ended up serving her.
I knew who she was even though she was wearing a hat and glasses, but I didn’t comment on it. I’ve lived in LA all my life and celebrities are a dime a dozen. You just leave them be. Native Los Angelenos aren’t typically autograph seekers.
So I check her out as I would anyone else, and she handed me her credit card. Sure enough, Reese Witherspoon.
Again, I made no comment.
She then proceeds to take off her hat and glasses until it’s fully apparent that it’s her, expecting some reaction from me. I treated her the same as everyone else. She didn’t like that. I could see she was upset that there was no overreaction and that I didn’t follow up with special celebrity treatment. I wished her good day, and then a customer came over and asked for an autograph and she perked up a bit. But she turned and lookin back at me one last time with total bitch face.
I still laugh about this.
Ahhh I love when people share anecdotes like this! Thank you.
Yes! This is a great story and thank you so much for sharing!
She absolutely told this story because she’s been stewing since 2007 that Winslet didn’t “have a sense of humor about it” – I’m sure that’s what she says when she tells that story to friends. Reese seems like a huge bitch, which does not detract from her being a really great actress and a very out-in-front feminist in Hollywood. I’d hate to work for her, but I like the work she does.