Reese Witherspoon 'deeply embarrassed' after arrest
Mug shots of Reese Witherspoon and her husband, James Toth. Both were arrested on a disorderly conduct charge after a state trooper said Witherspoon wouldn't stay in the car while Toth was given a field sobriety test in Atlanta. Credit: City of Atlanta Department of Corrections
Academy Award-winner Reese Witherspoon has apologized for having disregarded a Georgia state trooper's orders at a traffic stop on Friday and attempting to use her celebrity status to pressure the officer.
"Out of respect for the ongoing legal situation, I cannot comment on everything that is being reported right now," Witherspoon, 37, said in a statement. "But I do want to say, I clearly had one drink too many and I am deeply embarrassed about the things I said. It was definitely a scary situation and I was frightened for my husband, but that is no excuse. I was disrespectful to the officer who was just doing his job. I have nothing but respect for the police and I'm very sorry for my behavior."
Witherspoon and her husband, talent agent Jim Toth, 42, were arrested in Atlanta, where she is filming "The Good Lie," a fact-based drama about four young Sudanese refugees immigrating to America. The couple was detained briefly before posting bond. Toth was charged with DUI and Witherspoon with disorderly conduct. Their scheduled hearings Monday were postponed to May 23 and 22, respectively.
People magazine said Monday that Toth was embarrassed by the circumstances.
The two were in New York Sunday for the premiere of Witherspoon's film "Mud." They joined several friends afterward, according to Us Weekly, including Chelsea Handler, Cameron Diaz, Michael Keaton, Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann, at the Greenwich Hotel, where they drank San Pellegrino mineral water.
