Reese Witherspoon’s Dad Sued for Bigamy, Says He Doesn’t Remember Marrying Second Wife
In a case Elle Woods would no doubt find very juicy, Reese Witherspoon's mother has filed a lawsuit against the actress' father, accusing him of practicing bigamy with his new wife.
Reese Witherspoon's father, a 70-year-old retired professor and otolaryngologist, says he doesn't remember marrying Tricianne Taylor, a 60-year-old former owner of a home-based hair salon.
That part definitely happened, though—just this past January, in Gatlinburg, TN. Judging from the wedding announcement printed April 22 in The Tennessean (incidentally, how Reese's mother found out her husband was married – Mazel tov), it was a very Southern affair:
"Reverend Alden Marshall officiated at the intimate double-ringed ceremony which took place at a private chalet in Gatlinburg. Cowboy boots and yellow roses accented the ambiance of the couple's Texas heritage. The bride's full-length formal ivory satin gown featured a sequin-braided halter neckline. The groom wore a white linen suit accented with a gold Parthenon tie, gift from the bride."
What is a Parthenon tie? It's hard to tell from the picture on the newspaper website (click to "Week of April 22"). Is it just a tie with a picture (or many pictures) of the Parthenon on it? If so: classic Texas.
UPDATE: Commenters have pointed out there is a replica of the Parthenon located in Nashville, Tennessee. By the Nashville Department of Parks & Recreation's best guess, the statue of Athena contained therein wears a size 177 women's shoe.
Also, who knew they had chalets in Gatlinburg, Tennessee?
UPDATE 2: Apparently, there is a ski resort in Gatlinburg, Tennessee that is only a 15 minute drive from Dollywood. Jesus, why don't we all live there? From the wonders of ancient Greece, to the luxury of the Swiss Alps, to the intrigue of (allegedly) unintentional bigamy, Tennessee offers something for everyone.
Reese's parents have been married for 42 years, though they have not lived together since 1996. Mary Elizabeth Witherspoon, who goes by Betty, claims the separation was spurred on by her husband John's problems with drinking, hoarding, and overspending.
In the lawsuit, Betty states that John owns "at least" five motorcycles and five boats, adding that he recently bought a black Cadillac.
And now he also has two wives, hi-yooo.
According to her affidavit, when Betty confronted him about being married to two women, John "said he didn't know who Tricianne Taylor was and that he did not remember getting married."
However, at least one of the two of them must have known who Taylor was, as (per USA Today) the affidavit also alleges that John tried to bring her to Reese's wedding to talent agent Jim Toth in California this past March.
Security officers denied Taylor entry to the event, as her name was not on the guest list.
That's just the kind of headache Reese Witherspoon wants to deal with on her wedding day.
Betty, who is pretty sure this woman is angling for money (she alleges Taylor has gotten John Witherspoon to change his will and that she's living in a Nashville condo owned by Reese) is hoping for an annulment of John's marriage to Taylor, rather than a divorce from her husband, who she believes is suffering from early-onset dementia.
Celebrities: They're just like us. (Their parents marry people and then forget and then sue one another for bigamy and also they wear cowboy boots to their weddings in a Tennessee ski chalet.)
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for the end of May.
