She went through the same phase after allegedly being cheated on by former hubby Ryan Phillippe, and did not want the 'Twilight' star to feel the same way.
According to a source close to the 26-year-old actor, Witherspoon has always looked at Pattinson like a little brother, and the fact that she could relate to what he was going through prompted her to give him a place to stay and a shoulder to cry on.
"Reese went through a very public cheating scandal herself when Ryan Phillippe went outside their marriage and hooked up with Abbie Cornish, so her first thought when she heard about Kristen and Rob was to reach out to him and make sure he was okay," Radar Online quote a source as saying.
"Reese knows what it's like to be on display when your heart is broken, so she felt like opening up her home to Rob was the right thing to do," the source said.
Pregnant with her third child, the source said Witherspoon's motherly instincts are in full force.
"She's not trying to lead Rob one way or the other regarding his future with Kristen.
"Reese and her husband [Jim Toth] are just giving Rob the space he needs and a place to stay that's far away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi," the source added. (ANI)
