Reese Witherspoon Says Modern Dating Lost Its Spark — Because We Stopped Watching Rom-Coms.NH
The actress, 49, shared her theory about the trials of modern dating during an appearance on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast.
In the episode, released on Monday, Nov. 3, Shepard, 50, said his “beautiful” friend claimed that men no longer approach her or her friends when they go out to restaurants or bars.
“The system is really f—— broken,” he said. “Dudes need to be going up to girls and asking them for numbers.”
Witherspoon agreed, saying, “Something’s wrong.”
“I have a theory about it,” the Legally Blonde actress continued. “It all has to do with rom-coms and sitcoms. You know how there’s been, like, the past 10 years, I would even say the past 15 years, this decline in the making of rom-coms? Or, like, legitimate big movie stars being in rom-coms?”Reese Witherspoon attends Hello Sunshine’s Third Annual Shine Away Experiential Event on Oct. 11, 2025 in Universal City, Calif.
Witherspoon went on to suggest that the decline in romantic portrayals on screen have impacted young people’s perception of dating.
“It’s not just rom-com movies, but I also think of rom-com television shows. The television show that you watched when you were 11, 12 or 13, that made you imagine and visualize dating skills,” she said.
Witherspoon brought up The Goldbergs, Everybody Hates Chris and Young Sheldon as examples. “I’ve been watching these shows with my 13 year-old-boy,” she continued, referring to her son Tennessee James Toth. “Young Sheldon is a great show. It’s not just young Sheldon. There’s two other teenage characters who are dating. Shows like that where they’re learning about relationship and romantic dynamics.”Reese Witherspoon and Josh Lucas in ‘Sweet Home Alabama’.
Shepard, who shares two daughters with wife Kristen Bell, then spoke about how portrayals of romantic relationships on-screen are important for boys to see because it helps them realize that “everyone’s terrified” to ask people out.
“Someone needs to tell you everyone’s equally afraid of it, and you just gotta do it,” he said.
Witherspoon added, “And then every once in a while, you get a great friendship. I don’t know what it is, but I do think these 10 to 15 years where the internet started, social media started, and then we stopped… We started going, ‘rom-coms are cringey,’ but it was actually where we learned social dynamics. From Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.”
Monica Padman, who co-hosts the podcast with Shepard, mentioned that doesn’t “do anything” to help when it comes to her own dating life.
“Well, I’m gonna give you a job,” Witherspoon told Padman. “In the next three months, I want you to ask out three different people… And I’m gonna give you my phone number and you’re gonna text me each time you do it.”
The romance fan then suggested a script for potential suitors: “Okay, I l know this is a little forward. I’ve never done this before. I just noticed that you might be single, but I have noticed you a couple of times. And would you ever wanna just get coffee with me?”Dax Shepard on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’.
Witherspoon has starred in several romantic comedies throughout her career, including 2002’s Sweet Home Alabama, 2017’s Home Again and 2023’s Your Place or Mine.
In addition to her son Tennessee, she shares daughter Ava Phillippe, 26, and son Deacon Phillippe, 21, with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe.
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Witherspoon is currently in a relationship with German financier Oliver Haarmann, whom she has been linked to since 2024.
In September, a source told PEOPLE, “Her relationship with Oliver is very special to her. He’s not interested in the Hollywood spotlight. He’s there for her.”
