Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Kaleigh Werner

Reese Witherspoon reveals the unexpected name her son calls her instead of ‘mom’

Reese Witherspoon’s youngest son Tennessee Roth has moved on from calling her “mom.” He’s now adopted a unique, unexpected nickname for her.

The Legally Blonde star took to her Instagram story on Wednesday to reveal the wacky moniker her 12-year-old came up with as part of a popular social media trend in which people list all the different names they go by based on the people and jobs in their life.

Next to a video of her laughing, she wrote: “‘Morty’ to my youngest, no clue why.”

Witherspoon went on to list a few of her other names, from her government one to the nickname her high school friends have for her.

“‘Laura Jeanne’ to the government. ‘Reese’ to my fans. ‘Sister’ to my brother. ‘R Dubs’ to my friends,” she continued. “‘Ladybug’ to my mother. ‘Pieces’ to my high school friends.’ ‘Miss Reese’ to my friends’ children. ‘Mama’ to my older kids.”

The Big Little Lies actor shares her two oldest kids — Ava Phillippe, 25, Deacon Phillippe, 21, — with her ex-husband, actor Ryan Phillippe, and Tennessee with her second ex-husband, actor and producer Jim Toth.

Reese Witherspoon lists the various names people call her and reveals the nickname her youngest son has for her is ‘Morty’ (Instagram/ReeseWitherspoon)

Witherspoon’s nickname reveal comes a few months after she addressed feud rumors between her and Titanic star Kate Winslet.

In February, Witherspoon spoke out on Instagram, telling fans not to believe everything they hear or read.

“Hey guys .. just spoke to my very dear friend for years, Kate W. We laughed about this stupidity,” she said referring to the online chatter about them. “Please do not believe the internet. We are good friends and have never had any falling out.”

She then added: “This is completely UNTRUE ...so silly!”

Feud speculation first sparked after Witherspoon appeared to allude to the name of an A-lister who “doesn’t like her” after she made a speech in her honor.

Speaking to People magazine, Witherspoon remembered how her speech accidentally turned into a roast which led her friend, a fellow actor, to stop talking to her.

“So this friend of mine – who I didn't really know that well, but she was a very serious, proper actress – she asked me to give her an award,” she explained to People. “But I had never been to this award ceremony, so I thought it was like a roast. So I got up and I roasted her.

“But that was not the tone,” Witherspoon’s You’re Cordially Invited co-star Will Ferrell chimed in, to which she said: “No.”

“The tone was British, elegant, classy,” she continued. “And I was like, 'Remember the time we got laser hair removal?'”

Witherspoon then candidly pointed out that she’s “still embarrassed about it.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.