Ryan Phillippe Posts Flirty Caption About Reese Witherspoon

Actress Reese Witherspoon and actor Ryan Phillippe attend the "Legally Blonde" Southhampton Premiere on July 7, 2001 at the United Artists Cinemas in Southhampton, Long Island, New York.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Ryan Phillippe believes in the power of a good compliment, especially if it's directed at ex-wife Reese Witherspoon.

The actor took to Instagram Stories on Monday to share an incredible throwback picture of the two of them taken at the Legally Blonde premiere in 2001, captioning it, "We were hot and drenched in late 90's [sic] angst." He tagged Witherspoon and added in brackets, "such a cooler time than today."

In the photo, the exes look like a two-person optical illusion, her in a black and white striped dress, and him in a blue and white striped t-shirt vest. Witherspoon's dress was a high-necked halter with a wraparound skirt, and she wore her short-length bob slicked back. Meanwhile, Phillippe paired his muscle tee with baggy pants and pilot sunglasses, and wore his hair in a short mohawk.

They both kind of smirked at the camera, giving off a nonchalant je ne sais quoi.

Per People, Phillippe and Witherspoon got together circa 1997, got engaged in '98, tied the knot in '99, and welcomed their daughter Ava that same year. They also share son Deacon, born in 2003. The two announced their separation in 2006.

Since their split, Witherspoon married Jim Toth in 2011, with the two going their separate ways last year. Phillippe, as for him, has been linked to the likes of Amanda Seyfried, Nikki Reed, Rihanna and Demi Lovato, with each relationship not lasting long-term. If you're following, that means the exes are both single right now.

Obviously, one compliment doesn't signal the two getting back together, but at least we know they get along really well as coparents. I'll count that as a win.

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Iris Goldsztajn is a London-based journalist, editor and author. She is the morning editor at Marie Claire, and her work has appeared in the likes of British Vogue, InStyle, Cosmopolitan, Refinery29 and SELF. Iris writes about everything from celebrity news and relationship advice to the pitfalls of diet culture and the joys of exercise. She has many opinions on Harry Styles, and can typically be found eating her body weight in cheap chocolate.