Reese Witherspoon speaks out after dad John, 84, is rushed to hospital following poolside fall
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: Reese Witherspoon is speaking out and reassuring fans after her father, John Draper Witherspoon, was rushed to the hospital Friday, August 7, following a fall at his condo, where he was reportedly found face down on the concrete by the pool.
The actress later confirmed that he is now in stable condition and receiving care from doctors and nurses, while also thanking everyone who reached out to the family with messages of concern and support.
Reese Witherspoon shares update on John Draper Witherspoon’s health
The ‘Legally Blonde’ star took to her Instagram Stories later Friday to address reports about her father’s hospitalization. Witherspoon wrote, “Earlier today, several outlets reported that my dad was taken to the hospital after a fall. I want to let everyone know that he is fine now. He is being taken care of by wonderful doctors and nurses.”
She continued, “Thank you to everyone who reached out, It means the world to our family.”
According to sources, John was found face down on the concrete by the pool of his Nashville condo, Page Six reported. A fellow resident spotted the retired otolaryngologist from their balcony and alerted the doorman, who eventually located him on the ground.
“The doorman and building manager rolled him over and they said, ‘Dr. Witherspoon, are you OK?’” the source noted, adding, “He blinked his eyes, and that’s when he was rushed to the hospital.”
Nashville Metro confirmed that a medical incident resulting in someone being rushed to the hospital occurred at John’s condo building Friday but did not reveal the person’s identity. John served as a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserves and was a surgeon specializing in issues concerning the ears, nose and throat.
He married Mary Elizabeth, known as “Betty,” in 1970 after meeting her in medical school at the University of Tennessee, where she was studying to become a nurse. The couple welcomed their older son, also named John, in 1972 and Reese in 1976.
John Draper Witherspoon’s family life and Reese Witherspoon’s journey to stardom
John and Betty raised their children in Nashville until the 1990s, when they separated and began living separately. Their split became public in 2012 after Betty lodged a bigamy lawsuit against John and sought to have his new marriage to Tricianne Taylor annulled, arguing that he had failed to divorce her before marrying again.
The couple later reconciled. In 2018, Betty told the Australian outlet Women’s Day that they had been together “quite a while” and were “still married.” She also said, “He has moved back in with me.”
John and Betty supported Reese throughout her career, including attending the 78th Academy Awards in 2006, where she won Best Actress for ‘Walk the Line.’ They also stood by her when she received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010.
During her Oscar speech, she said, “I'm so blessed to have my family here tonight. My mother and my father are here. I just want to say thank you so much for everything, for being so proud of me. It didn't matter if I was making my bed or making a movie.”
The actress continued, “They never hesitated to say how proud they were of me. And that means so very much to a child.” During a past Vanity Fair interview, Reese reflected on the motivation she received from her parents.
“You wonder where all my drive comes from?” she questioned adding, “My dad scored a perfect score on his SAT's and a perfect score on his MCATS, and graduated at the top of his class from Yale.”
