Chelsea Handler turned Reese Witherspoon's sweet birthday tribute to her son Deacon Phillippe into the internet's favourite awkward moment, commenting on the actress's Instagram post celebrating Deacon's 23rd birthday that the mother and son "look like a couple" in the first photo.
The comment that stole the post
"Happy Birthday, Deacon," Handler wrote, according to Entertainment Weekly. "You two look like a couple in the first slide." The photo in question shows Witherspoon leaning against her son's shoulder as they stand together on a beach. Handler, 51, is known for her unfiltered comedy, and fans quickly picked up on the joke, sharing the comment widely as the standout reaction to the birthday post.
Reese's emotional tribute
Witherspoon's own caption was considerably more sentimental. "Happy Birthday to my son Deacon, who is turning 23 today," she wrote. "The year you were born, there was a fire in LA. Raging all around us. Somehow that fire forged you." She continued: "You were born into the light, you carry it inside you, and you help us see it in ourselves. I love you so much, so lucky to be your mom."
Other stars kept their messages firmly in birthday territory. Gwyneth Paltrow wrote, "Happy Birthday, you gorgeous boy! 23. Wow," while Mindy Kaling added, "23!!! Happy birthday Deacon!" Nina Dobrev, Kristin Chenoweth and Tara Strong also sent birthday wishes.
Deacon, 23, and building his own career
Deacon is Witherspoon's son with her ex-husband and Cruel Intentions co-star Ryan Phillippe; the former couple also share daughter Ava, 27. Witherspoon also has a son, Tennessee Toth, 14, with her ex Jim Toth. Deacon has focused primarily on music, releasing two albums and a number of singles, and he has also built an acting resume that includes Never Have I Ever and Motorheads. He graduated from New York University in May, with both parents there to celebrate.
Fans, meanwhile, could not stop noticing the family resemblance in the birthday photos, with one writing, "You and Ryan should be in textbooks about DNA." The takeaway: Handler's cheeky comment may have grabbed the headlines, but the post itself was a mother's proud, emotional tribute to a son coming into his own at 23.
Watch: Videos of Reese Witherspoon and Deacon Phillippe together
Music in this post's reel: Kevin MacLeod - Life of Riley (incompetech.com), licensed under CC BY 3.0
Sources: Entertainment Weekly, Parade, Geo News.