target="_blank" target="_blank" data-vars-ga-outbound-link="https://people.com/movies/ava-phillippe-says-gender-is-whatever-when-asked-about-her-sexuality/">Questions feature, answering their series of individual queries on her Stories. One user asked the 22-year-old whether she likes boys or girls, to which Phillippe responded with a simple explanation. “I'm attracted to… people!” she wrote in text across a picture of herself wearing blue eye shadow, adding in parentheses, “Gender is whatever.”

Phillippe has shared photos with herself with Owen Mahoney, a fellow UC Berkeley student whom she began dating circa 2019, in the past. It is unclear whether they are still together.

Phillippe is the eldest child of Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, and big sister to Deacon Reese Phillippe, 18. She's also a half-sibling to 8-year-old Tennessee James Toth, whom Witherspoon shares with her current husband, talent agent Jim Toth.

In November, Witherspoon opened up to InStyle about the unique experiences of her children, who, unlike the actress, were raised around fame. “It's an odd situation because I didn't grow up famous. So [Ava is] living an experience that I did not have, and so are my sons,” the actress said. “We are lucky enough to have friends who grew up in Hollywood and can help give them advice on how to navigate.”

She added that she fully supports her kids in finding their truth. “Ava is so down-to-earth. She wants to do great things in the world,” Witherspoon said. “She's studying and learning and trying to find herself. It's a big thing in life to try different things and figure out what is really your path.”

Phillippe recently celebrated her 22nd birthday, in September. Witherspoon shared a loving birthday tribute to her now grown-up daughter on Instagram, featuring a photo of her alongside a sweet note. “Happy Birthday to my sweet little girl…excuse me… I mean my adult daughter!!!” she wrote. “Words can't describe how proud I am of you. You have grown into an extraordinary person who cares so much about the world around her. I am so lucky to have you light up my life. I love you, Ava!!”