Awkward photos of Ashton Kutcher and Reese Witherspoon on the red carpet went viral earlier this week.
Alas Kutcher finally revealed to the world why the duo appeared so uncomfortable.
Kutcher and Witherspoon recently attended the premiere of their new Netflix romantic comedyYour Place or Mine.
But their presence on the red carpet was anything but romantic.
\u201chttps://t.co/udSaRa6iKL Mila Kunis called out Ashton Kutcher and Reese Witherspoon over 'awkward' red carpet photos https://t.co/nhWdPbBJDZ\u201d— Film-News.co.uk (@Film-News.co.uk) 1675769771
\u201cAshton Kutcher\u2019s wife responded to those viral red carpet photos with Reese Witherspoon in the most hilarious way ever https://t.co/mzMCUireB8\u201d— Woman's Own Magazine (@Woman's Own Magazine) 1675783211
People called out Kutcher and Witherspoon for not even making bodily contact. Kutcher remained standing with his hands in his pockets for most of their red carpet presence.
But wonder no more, because Kutcher set the record straight on the Chicks in the Office podcast.
"Here's the thing: If I put my arm around her and was, like, all friendly with her, I'd be having an affair with her."
Kutcher has been married to his That 70s Show co-star Mila Kunis since 2015, dating since 2012.
He explained his strategy:
"If I stand next to her and I put my hands in my pockets, so there's no chance that, like, that could be the rumor, the rumor is we don't like each other."
The lesser of two evils, we guess?
Kutcher shared even his wife called out their optically unpleasant appearance by texting the two, "Guys, you gotta act like you like each other."
Listeners of the podcast contributed their thoughts.
Many claimed Kutcher was being a gentleman and a dedicated husband.
\u201c@ChicksInTheOff Good man and husband!\u201d— Chicks in the Office (@Chicks in the Office) 1675742321
\u201c@ChicksInTheOff There's always gonna be rumors! You can tell he loves his wife and she him! \u2764\u201d— Chicks in the Office (@Chicks in the Office) 1675742321
\u201c@ChicksInTheOff @BarstoolRia Lol that\u2019s amazing! We love to see it \ud83d\ude02\u201d— Chicks in the Office (@Chicks in the Office) 1675742321
\u201c@MediumSizeMeech What Ashton is referring to is the fact that we live in a time where there are automatic assumptions and people taking offense to everything these days that it's just easier to avoid conflict. I definitely understand his perspective.\u201d— Meech (@Meech) 1675810699
Of course, some claimed it's possible to still appear friendly in a nonromantic way.
I mean, no one was asking for a Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac moment.
\u201c@MediumSizeMeech Didn\u2019t nobody say that mess when they gave us this. In my opinion he told on himself.\u201d— Meech (@Meech) 1675810699
\u201c@MediumSizeMeech Um. Could of pretended to smile, no one said touching. Cc: Keanu Reeves photos with FANS\u201d— Meech (@Meech) 1675810699
And then some joked *record scratch*... wait a minute...
\u201c@MediumSizeMeech But isn\u2019t that why Brad and Angelina posed like this at the mr and mrs smith premiere?\u201d— Meech (@Meech) 1675810699
\u201c@MediumSizeMeech Well *now* I think they are having one.\u201d— Meech (@Meech) 1675810699
Well, Kutcher definitely achieved his goal of appearing unromantic.
Your Place or Mine begins streaming on Netflix tomorrow.
Hopefully, the chemistry is more evident in the film.
@RonFilipkowski/X