Ryan Phillippe Sued Over Hair Fire Incident at Beverly Hills Restaurant

Ryan Phillippe is reportedly being sued by a woman who claims she was nearly set on fire at a restaurant in which he is invested.

The 50-year-old actor — who recently revealed why his lost out on his ‘dream role’ in the Star Wars prequels — is being sued by Jody Sanders, according to TMZ, who alleges that her hair was set on fire at The Hideaway in Beverly Hills. 

She is also reportedly suing Jeffrey Best, the celebrity event planner and owner of the restaurant, as well as the restaurant itself. 

However, a source tells DailyMail.com that Phillippe is not an owner of The Hideaway, and is instead only a minority investor in the restaurant who doesn’t have any involvement in its day-to-day decisions.

DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Phillippe and The Hideaway for comment. 

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Ryan Phillippe is being sued by a woman who claims her hair was set on fire by an unattended candle at the bar of his restaurant The Hideaway in Beverly Hills, according to TMZ; pictured May 13 in LA

Sanders alleges in her lawsuit that she was an attendee at a Hideaway event back in April 2024 when her scary encounter with the flames occurred.

According to TMZ, she says she was seated at the restaurant’s bar when ‘unattended wax candle burning on the bar’s surface’ alleged burned her hair.

It’s unclear if she’s alleging that her hair was merely singed, or if it burst into flames.

Sanders is reportedly seeking unspecified damages.

But DailyMail.com’s source alleges that her claims were settled by The Hideaway’s insurance company sometime last year, raising questions about the purpose of the lawsuit.

Jeffrey Best — the mastermind behind Britney Spears’ wedding to Sam Asghari and Madonna and Guy Oseary’s Oscar parties — became a first-time restaurant owner when he opened The Hideaway with co-owners Sylvain Bitton and JT Torregiani.

Phillippe appears to have been involved in promoting The Hideaway after it opened in 2022, but he appears to only be one of a group of investors, which also includes Diana Ross’ son Evan Ross.

Ryan spoke about how the restaurant is inspired by the ‘vibe’ of ‘‘70s to ‘80s Baja, Mexico’ in an interview with Cigar & Spirits Magazine.

But a source tells DailyMail.com that the woman’s claims were allegedly settled by the restaurant’s insurance company last year; The Hideaway’s dining room is pictured in January 2014

They also note that Phillippe is a minority investor — along with several others, including Diana Ross’ son Evan Ross — and he is allegedly not involved with day-to-day business; pictured May 21 in NYC

The Cruel Intentions actor was married to Reese Witherspoon from 1999 to 2007, and they share two children: daughter Ava, 25, and his lookalike son Deacon, 21 (pictured with Ryan on May 13 in LA)

The restaurant — which is inspired by the food and atmosphere of Baja, California — is located below street level on Beverly Hills’ iconic Rodeo Drive, which is famous for its upscale shops. 

Phillippe said the interior of The Hideaway was ‘intentionally aged’ and ‘made to look like it’s been here for some time,’ which he compared to ‘what a set designer would do in a movie.’

‘This is a brand-new restaurant but look at the cracks around the coping,’ the Cruel Intentions star noted. ‘All of that is done with intention so it feels like a place that’s been around for a long time.’

The restaurant’s menu suggests it’s ideal for carnivores, with plenty of with plenty of fish, chicken and pork options, though there are also mushroom enchiladas on the dinner menu for vegans and vegetarians. 

But it’s primarily a Mexican steakhouse with cuts of beef that go for as much as $125 (for an A5 Wagyu filet) and $145 (for an enormous bone-in tomahawk steak).

In addition to his acting career, Phillippe is known for being the ex-husband of Reese Witherspoon, whom he was married to from 1999 to 2007.

They share two children: 25-year-old daughter Ava and 21-year-old son Deacon, who bares a striking resemblance to his father.