Damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t.
Ashton Kutcher stated that he awkwardly stood close to Reese Witherspoon at red carpet events for their new film “Your Place or Mine” in order to avert allegations of an affair.
“Here’s the thing: If I put my arm around her and was all friendly with her, I would be having an affair with her,” the actor, who is married to Mila Kunis, said on Monday’s episode of “Chicks in the Office.”
If I stand next to her with my hands in my pockets, the rumor that we dislike each other cannot possibly be true.
Kutcher, 45, added, “Reese and I are extremely close friends. We are so near. I am not required to defend that.”
The “Punk’d” alum also revealed that he is “hard of hearing,” so that, along with the photographic frenzy on the red carpets, may have contributed to his disinterested expression.
“I don’t know who is yelling my name, but I know there are a lot of people yelling, ‘Reese, Ashton, over here…’ and, at a certain point, you’re like, ‘God, this is really something’… for about 20 minutes,” he explained.
If you can assure me that you won’t have an odd expression at any point throughout those 20 minutes, then you’re better than I am, and I’m okay with that.
People on social media commented on the absence of chemistry between Kutcher and Witherspoon on the carpets.
Kutcher and Witherspoon, both 46, went viral over the weekend for their somewhat awkward red carpet postures, in which the “Dude, Where’s My Car?” actor had his hands mostly in his pockets and the “Legally Blonde” actress stood firmly next to him.
The photographs prompted even 39-year-old Kunis to take notice and address her husband and close pal.
“My wife called me, she texted Reese and I together, and she said, ‘Guys, act like you like each other,’” Kutcher revealed on a podcast.
Since 2015, Kutcher has been married to Mila Kunis.
Witherspoon confirmed the chat on the “Today” show, saying that she had known Kunis longer than Kutcher, so it was “fun” to meet her friend’s partner.
In addition, the “Sweet Home Alabama” actress, who is married to talent agent Jim Toth, said of Kutcher, “He’s extremely professional. He is the funniest person. I mean, he is such an idiot. We had a great time.”
“Your Place or Mine” releases on Netflix on February 10.
»Ashton Kutcher maintained his distance from Reese Witherspoon to avoid accusations of an affair«