Despite being the highest-paid actress in Hollywood, Reese Witherspoon has to be one of the most inoffensive celebrities ever. And yet the tabloids love to manufacture drama about her. She Is Jake Gyllenhaal’s Blonde Beard! No, They Are More In Love Than Ever! Reese Still Not Over Ryan’s Affair! Etc.
But sometimes, even the squeakiest stars do something dumb enough to capture my attention. Exhibit A, from an interview with the BBC:
What’s a typical Christmas Day for you?
I have kids, so it’s a lot about opening presents. And then I start cooking and I really enjoy that part of it. They play with their toys and I cook some dinner. It’s nice.
Are you a generous mum or do you have to exercise some control?
I’m a little strict about that kind of stuff. I think kids do best when they only have a couple of things that they really enjoy. I try and stay away from the gluttony of things. They don’t appreciate it as much. When they only get one or two things they really like it.
This year, she has said her daughter Ava “wants a horse.” (Watch the video.) She suggests she is still on the fence about buying her that present.
On Christmas morning, there’s nothing like home and hearth. And horses.
I say let Ava have her pony, but cut the down-home, feel-good, we-are-not-abnormally-wealthy-just-because-I-get-paid-$20-million-per-movie crap, okay?
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I would imagine a lot little girls would want a pony for christmas I don’t think there is anyting wrong with what she said.
I agree with kelli. A horse is a big investment of time and money, but it’s not unattainable for normal people either.
For all we know the whole “down home” thing could be just a pose, and she swans around her mansion in peignoirs and bling while the servants give the kids presents wrapped in gold leaf. But Kelli and Chronic are right about the pony - it’s not a particularly outrageous present. Several people I know in my area (Boston ‘burbs) have a horse or two, and none of them are $20 million a picture movie stars.
I’m from a place where kids get horses all the time. When you grow up in Cowboy country, it’s not inconvenient to have a horse. They cost the same as snowboarding gear, or a laptop, or any other gift that’s considered expensive, but “normal.”
If Reese has a ranch or farm, then the upkeep wouldn’t be cumbersome, and it would be an excellent learning opportunity for her daughter. The care of a horse is similar to that of a large dog (frequent exercise, feeding, grooming, diet, vet checks etc…).
Um…slow day at Deceiver HQ or something?
That family has a farm. Why would getting a horse for the children qualify as hypocrisy at saying previously that Christmas isn’t about gluttony? She’s a single mom, she’s doing the best she can and has always seemed to have her together.
Awaiting the hypocrisy here.
A single mom? Yeah I’m sure it’s tough for her as a single mom. I wonder how she manages?
You assume money makes parenting easier, Pasta, and you’re absolutely wrong. My husband brings home a nice paycheque, but he’s also gone 12 hours/day and I’m left to go insane with the children. Some days, I can barely keep from screaming. So unless you’re a single mom, or even the primary parenting figure, shut it!
She’s made eight movies since 2004. At 20 mil a movie that means she’s earned $160,000,000 just in upfront money. Yeah I’m gonna assume that makes single parenting just a little easier.
She might be single, and she might be a parent, but that doesn’t make her a single parent in the “Oh poor me help me Oprah!” sense. And shutting it is not usually something I do.
Did she gold plate the pony?
I grew up in a lower class family in the country. I got a pony for Christmas. Owning horses doesn’t mean you’re a rich movie star.
tips@deceiver.com
Is somebody jealous little Ava might get the pony somebody once wanted ;)?
I tried to hide it, StrawberryGirl, but clearly I failed
Maybe they’re from Poland.
and if that don’t work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Rv6bAFrvJg
I don’t get why everybody has to slam celebrities for things like this. I am sure, that if you had the money she has, you would be spending it too! A pony for a gift is not that outlandish as this is a classic request. She is trying to not over-indulge her kids & all she gets is kicked in the teeth because she spent some of her hard-earned money? Sounds like a case of sour grapes to me.
While I agree that a horse is not as unreasonable a request as more technological goodies (hey, at least kids with horses go outside!), I’ll just say this . . .
Just wait, Holly. If Reese actually decides to get the pony for her daughter, you may just have a juicier story in six to eighteen months. (Or, to state it clearer–what happens to it when the princess gets bored?)