Reese Witherspoon Daughter Comes Out: What Really Happened With Ava Phillippe

It happened in the middle of a casual Instagram Q&A, the kind where fans ask about skincare routines or favorite movies. Someone typed in a question that felt a bit more personal: "Do u like boys or girls?" Ava Phillippe didn’t overthink it. She didn't call a publicist or draft a formal press release. She just posted a selfie with blue eyeshadow and a simple, five-word caption that sent the internet into a tailspin.

"I'm attracted to people! (Gender is whatever.)"

That was it. No fanfare. No "I'm coming out" banner. Just a honest reflection of how she sees the world. Since that moment in early 2022, the conversation around Reese Witherspoon daughter comes out hasn't really stopped. But if you look at how Ava lives her life today in 2026, it’s clear she wasn't looking for a label; she was looking for authenticity.

The Moment Ava Phillippe Said "Gender Is Whatever"

We live in a world that loves to put people in boxes. Are you this? Are you that? For Ava, those boxes apparently felt a bit too small. When she answered that fan question, she wasn't just talking about who she dates. She was making a statement about how she perceives human connection.

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Honestly, the reaction was a mixed bag. A huge portion of her followers cheered for the "don't-care" attitude toward traditional labels. It felt very Gen Z—fluid, open, and remarkably chill. But, because it’s the internet, the trolls showed up too. Ava had to follow up her post a day later with a firm warning: she was more than happy to use the block button on anyone bringing "bigoted/hateful messages" to her page.

It’s interesting to look back at that now. At the time, she was a 22-year-old student at UC Berkeley. She was studying sociology and psychology, basically learning about how humans tick. It makes total sense that her view on attraction would be more about the "person" and less about the "category."

Reese Witherspoon’s Perspective on Her Daughter's Journey

You can’t talk about Ava without talking about Reese. They are basically twins, right? But while they share the same chin and blue eyes, they grew up in two different universes. Reese has been incredibly open about how her upbringing in Nashville didn't exactly prepare her for these kinds of conversations.

In a 2020 interview with Variety, Reese admitted that sexuality wasn't something people talked about when she was a kid. She didn't even understand what homosexuality was until she moved to Los Angeles and met people in the industry.

So, how did she handle the Reese Witherspoon daughter comes out headlines? With the same supportive "cool mom" energy she’s always had. Reese hasn't sat down for a 20/20 special to discuss Ava’s dating life, but she doesn't need to. She likes Ava's Pride posts. She leaves heart-eye emojis on photos of Ava’s partners.

Reese once told InStyle that Ava is "finding herself." She noted that it's a big thing in life to try different things and figure out your own path. That’s a pretty evolved way to look at parenting, especially when your every move is being watched by millions.

Who Is Ava Phillippe Dating Now?

The thing about saying "gender is whatever" is that people often assume it means you’ve changed who you are. In reality, it usually just means you’re being more honest about who you’ve always been.

For a long time, Ava was linked to Owen Mahoney, a fellow Berkeley student who, hilariously, looked a lot like a young Ryan Phillippe. They were together for several years, and Reese clearly approved, even joining them on family vacations.

Fast forward to late 2024 and through 2025, and things shifted. Ava went Instagram official with Dakota Brubaker, a musician who goes by the name Vindigo. By June 2025, the two had officially moved in together. They’ve become a bit of a TikTok sensation, mostly because fans can’t stop pointing out that Dakota also looks like her dad. They even made a tongue-in-cheek video reacting to a comment that called them the "next-gen Reese and Ryan."

Why This Matters for Celeb Culture

The way Ava handled "coming out" is a blueprint for how the next generation of Hollywood royalty is dealing with fame.

1. Low Stakes: She didn't make it a "thing." By making it a casual IG story, she took the power away from the tabloids.
2. Boundaries: She told people exactly where the line was. If you’re mean, you’re blocked. Simple.
3. Fluidity over Labels: She never claimed a specific label like "bi" or "pan." She just said she likes people.

This shift is huge. It moves us away from the "shock and awe" of celebrity coming-out stories and into a space where a person's sexuality is just one small part of their identity—about as interesting as their favorite coffee order.

Navigating the Public Eye in 2026

Being the daughter of an Oscar winner and a 90s heartthrob isn't easy. Ava has had to deal with people dissecting her weight, her clothes, and her love life since she was in diapers.

In June 2024, she posted a photo twirling a Pride flag and referenced her original 2022 comments. She wrote, "Once upon a time, some gal on the internet said 'gender is whatever' in reference to her own sexuality. Many took her words out of context, but she knew what she meant."

That "context" she’s talking about is likely the way people tried to force her into a specific box once she said it. People wanted her to be the "LGBTQ+ daughter," whereas she just wanted to be Ava.

What We Can Learn From Ava’s Approach

If you’re looking at Ava’s story and wondering how to apply that "gender is whatever" energy to your own life, here are some thoughts:

• You don’t owe anyone a label. If you don’t feel like you fit into a specific category, you don’t have to pick one. "I like people" is a perfectly valid answer.
• Support starts at home. Reese’s ability to let Ava be herself without making it a media circus is a great example of how to support a child’s journey.
• Boundaries are your best friend. You can be open and honest online while still protecting your peace. The block button is free for a reason.

Ava Phillippe is currently 26, living her life in LA, making art, and navigating a serious relationship. Whether she’s dating a man, a woman, or someone who identifies as neither, it seems she’s sticking to her original rule: gender is whatever. What matters is the person.

To keep up with Ava’s journey, you should follow her on social media where she shares her photography and sketches. It gives a much better window into who she is than any tabloid headline ever could. Focus on the art and the advocacy she does for animal rescues; that’s where her real passion seems to lie.