Internet drags Reese Witherspoon over ‘out of touch’ dating theory

Reese Witherspoon’s theory that dating declined with rom-coms has sparked backlash and mockery online

Reese Witherspoon’s comments about modern dating being ruined by the decline of romantic comedies have not landed well online. The actress shared her theory during an episode of Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, saying people “learned social dynamics” from rom-coms and sitcoms, and that their absence has left younger generations unsure how to connect.

But social media users quickly turned on the idea, calling it “tone-deaf,” “out of touch,” and “embarrassingly Hollywood.” On social media, commenters mocked the 49-year-old Legally Blonde star for linking dating struggles to movie trends. One Redditor wrote, “Maybe dating’s hard because of housing prices and social anxiety, not because we’re missing Meg Ryan.” Another added, “Rom-coms didn’t teach anyone real dating skills. They taught us to chase unavailable men and make grand gestures at airports.”

Many users said her comments reflected a nostalgic Hollywood bubble that ignores how technology and gender politics have reshaped modern relationships. Others noted that romantic comedies often portrayed unrealistic expectations and gender stereotypes, arguing that fewer rom-coms might actually be a good thing. “We’re not suffering from fewer rom-coms,” one person wrote. “We’re suffering from people who think dating is a plotline.”

Still, some defended Witherspoon, suggesting she was simply pointing out that pop culture once encouraged vulnerability and effort in dating. A few fans agreed that modern romance has become too transactional, but even they admitted the actress’s phrasing sounded “privileged and dated.”

The online backlash has overshadowed her upcoming projects, including her Hulu series All’s Fair and the continuing success of The Morning Show. Witherspoon has not publicly responded to the criticism, but the conversation she started has spiralled far beyond what she likely intended, from nostalgia for old rom-coms to a generational argument about what really broke modern love.