Ashton Kutcher explains ‘awkward’ photos with Reese Witherspoon

Ashton Kutcher has addressed why he looked so “awkward” in recent red carpet photos with Your Place Or Mine co-star Reese Witherspoon, which have since gone viral.

Many have commented online how the actor, 45, and Witherspoon, 46, appeared uncomfortable as they posed next to each other for the photo call to promote their new Netflix romantic comedy.

Even Kutcher’s wife Mila Kunis, 39, picked up on the uneasy vibes that were captured by the cameras.

Speaking to the Chicks in the Office podcast, Kutcher explained: “My wife called me. She texted Reese and I together and said, ‘Guys, you gotta, like... act like you like each other’”.

Kutcher insisted that wasn’t the issue, and that he and Witherspoon are “really good friends”. Had he put his arm around her, he said, he could see reports emerging about the pair “having an affair,” putting him in a lose-lose situation.

He elaborated: “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. Like, the rumour would be that I’m having an affair with her,” he said.

“If I stand next to her and put my hands in my pockets, so there’s no chance that that could be the rumour, the rumour is we don’t like each other.”

He continued: “Reese and I are really good friends, we’re really close. I don’t have to defend that,” he said.

The That 70s Show star also highlighted another issue at play – that his hearing difficulties can make situations involving a lot of photographers noisily asking actors to look their way a bit overwhelming.

He said: “I can’t hear very well, ‘cause i’m hard of hearing in one ear and can only hear out of the other, I don’t know who’s calling my name, but I know there’s a lot of people yelling, ‘Reese! Ashton! Over here!’

“If you’re gonna tell me, in that entire 20-minute period, at one point you’re not gonna have an awkward face on, then you’re better than I am and I’m cool with that.”