Ryan Phillippe Really Wants Your Sympathy

By Amber James Posted Apr 20th 2010 07:00PM

Ever since Ryan Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon split in 2006 after seven years of marriage, he has been pegged as the "bad guy." As onlookers watched the two divorce, we all wondered how he could ever break the heart of America's 'Legally Blonde' sweetheart. But over the past week, Phillippe has been discussing how heartbroken he is, assuring fans he and Witherspoon are closer than ever. And if that didn't win us over, he had some help from his six-pack abs in the latest issue of Men's Health. Phillippe is using his charm -- and PR tactics -- to win us over. But will it last?

During an interview on Howard Stern's Sirius XM radio show, Phillippe blamed the media for turning him into a villain. "I've been dumped on in the press for relationship stuff since Reese and I divorced," he said. "I'm tired of getting s**t on. I don't feel like I deserve it. Things happen! How many people have you broken up with over your life?"

He makes a great point. Who were we to turn him into the villain? In a 2008 interview with W magazine, Phillippe probably gained a few sympathy votes with his side of the divorce story. "[The reason we divorced is] far more complicated and far less interesting than it's made out to be. To look and search for these salacious reasons, to pin it on a person, or a moment in someone's life, it's not realistic. [We] have done a really good job at keeping things peaceable and completely focused on [the children]," he said.

But Phillippe was once again turned into the "bad guy" when his relationship with Abbie Cornish ended. The couple's split was followed by rumors of Phillippe's infidelity.

And now, Phillippe is telling fans to rest assured that he and Witherspoon are still great friends. "After I had my breakup, she called, and after she did, I called," he Ryan Phillippe

said. Witherspoon recently broke up with Jake Gyllenhaal and is now dating Hollywood agent Jim Toth -- so she hasn't exactly been shy about jumping back into the dating scene.

The world has been rooting for Witherspoon. In a 2009 interview with Elle magazine, Witherspoon rehashed the divorce, calling it "very humiliating and very isolating," but added, "If it's not painful, maybe it wasn't the right decision to marry to begin with. Those are the appropriate emotions." Those comments cemented why we continued to root for her and not Phillippe. Perhaps Phillippe is finally making us see that there are always two sides of the story, and he doesn't want to be blamed for the entire downfall of his marriage.

"I still have sadness and complicated feelings about my divorce," he told Men's Health. "But how beneficial is it to keep hanging onto those feelings? If someone lives through an accident, his aim is to become better and healthy. My aim is always to progress -- to make better decisions and be a better father, a better boyfriend, a better husband if it happens again, a better friend, a better actor. My goals are to improve in all areas of life."

After building a career on the backs of heavy projects, like 'Flags of Our Fathers' and 'Gosford Park,' he is set to change the public's perception of his acting, too. Phillippe recently hosted 'Saturday Night Live' and showed his funny side in a sketch called 'Hip Hop Kids: Bear Cave' with Andy Samberg. In May, he will star alongside Val Kilmer, Kristen Wiig and Will Forte in the action comedy 'MacGruber,' which is a spinoff of 'Saturday Night Live's' clueless soldier.

Perhaps Phillippe's comedic approach (and playing nice with his ex) will bod well for the 35-year-old actor and officially bring an end to the on-going tabloid saga.

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Ryan Phillippe Photos

Actor Ryan Phillippe attends the Women's Fall 2010 Calvin Klein Collection after party on February 18 in New York. More photos >>

Getty Images

Getty Images North America

Ryan Phillippe Snapshots

MacGruber cast members Kristen Wiig , Will Forte and Ryan Phillippe stand in the ring at the WWE Monday night Raw at the Izod Center on April 19, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Celebrity Sightings at WWE Raw Izod Center East Rutherford, NJ United States April 19, 2010 Photo by George Napolitano/FilmMagic.com To license this image (60216016), contact FilmMagic.com

Ryan Phillippe Snapshots

"MacGruber" Will Forte, Kristen Wiig and Ryan Phillippe at the WWE Monday Night Raw at the Izod Center on April 19, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Celebrity Sightings at WWE Raw Izod Center East Rutherford, NJ United States April 19, 2010 Photo by George Napolitano/FilmMagic.com To license this image (60216082), contact FilmMagic.com

Ryan Phillippe Snapshots

Will Forte and Ryan Phillippe at the WWE Monday night Raw at the Izod Center on April 19, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Celebrity Sightings at WWE Raw Izod Center East Rutherford, NJ United States April 19, 2010 Photo by George Napolitano/FilmMagic.com To license this image (60215985), contact FilmMagic.com

Ryan Phillippe Snapshots

Ryan Phillippe at the WWE Monday night Raw at the Izod Center on April 19, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Celebrity Sightings at WWE Raw Izod Center East Rutherford, NJ United States April 19, 2010 Photo by George Napolitano/FilmMagic.com To license this image (60216047), contact FilmMagic.com

Ryan Phillippe Snapshots

FILE - In this Nov. 9, 2008 file photo, actor Ryan Phillippe poses for photographers at The Behind the Camera Awards in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Rene Macura, file)

Ryan Phillippe Snapshots

NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 18: Actor Ryan Phillippe attends the Women's Fall 2010 Calvin Klein Collection after party on February 18, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ryan Phillippe

Ryan Phillippe Snapshots

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Tags: reese witherspoon, Ryan Phillippe

Comments

(18)

Tuesday 20 April

By themeeker

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He wants my sympathy? Really? Who the he** is he?

By head's up

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Why do you read this blog? It's about celebrities. Don't pretend like you don't know who these people are.

By Cookie

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Hey Ryan , I have a tissue !!!!!

By Reni

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Ryan said "things happen"?, of course they do but things like this happen by choice! You cheated on your wife and family knowingly and that "Abbie" broad is just as much at fault as your are because she knew you were married and she STILL cheated with you! The only reason your in the spotlight more than she, is because you were the initiator of the tryst! Now karma is knocking at your door, it won't leave you alone and now your crying like a b*tch! You brought it on yourself!

Wednesday 21 April

By joelle walsh

How does anyone really know what happened ? The media says he cheated but the media never showed us the text messages claiming he cheated!

By deejay

Sure, he has my sympathy...for being STUPID enough to let a beautiful woman, mother of his children, get away and to cheat on Reese with someone who was such a close ringer...DUMB DUMB DUMB

Friday 23 April

By Don

Rooting for Reese Witherspoon? Rooting for Ryan Philippe? Really, who cares about other people and their seemingly endless whinings and problems as if these things haven't played out a million times before? To hell with both of them, you shallow clowns need to get a life.

By Muffy

Ryan, live your life. I was never a fan of Reese anyway.

By jnewser

The problem with Ryan is he carries himself and sounds (when he speaks) like a big douchebag. So it if quacks, you know the rest. I read elsewhere the aggressively tried to pick up Abby Elliot at a NYC club.

I can't believe Reese fell for a guy like that.

By ilovedessert

Ryan learn to keep it in your pants. I am 54 years aol and NEVER, NEVER cheated. YOur a pig and you got caught, now you wan tus to feel sorry for you.

By Mandaron

Do I smell a pity party? I don't feel bad for this CHEATA!

By Kim

You notice he never addresses the fact that he cheated? I think it is very convenient for him to think he can blame "sh@t happens" in a relationship, and not take responsibility for what he has wrought. A sign of great immaturity. Until he acknowledges what he has done, how he has hurt people , and how he is making ammends...he will always be a character actor. Or rather...an actor without character.

By trig ryder

I think it's pretty silly that the demise of a relationship is simplified into a good guy/bad guy paradigm, and that people get so judgmental and emotionally involved about celebrity relationships that don't make the slightest difference in their lives.

By JUDY

Ryan, realistically, we just want to be entertained and your personal life does not matter to us. I don't care what you are like. Not to say that I don't wish you well but real fans just want a good performance.

By TLeigh

Ryan your a very good looking young man, very talented Actor and I'm sure your a wonderful father. Move on and be Happy you have everything going for you. Certain relationships just don't work out. Good luck to you in the Future.

By Just An Opinion

Is it a trend to get married when you are NOT mature/ready enough to?

Monday 21 June

By Kelly Joanne Cannon

Ryan, I like you, and you have my sympathy. You are good-looking, and a great actor. I also have a crush on you, dude. Underneath being a celebrity, you're also a person, a guy whom makes mistakes sometimes, and is insecure, like me, and the rest of us, and doesn't have it all together, all the time. Being a celebrity doesn't make you any less of a person at all. That's what you are besides being a celebrity, a person, you really are. Thus, I care about you. Sincerely, your fan, and happiness, and future love, to you, love also to your family, your kids, I just love kids, and to Reese as well, Kelly Joanne Cannon P.S: You've got my back-up, always. Show me a person who isn't just a person underneath, and really, you've got a figment of the imagination. Good luck to you, Ryan!

Tuesday 07 December

By Sabrina

He cheated on her in Charleston SC with a golf pro !

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