After red carpet photos of Ashton Kutcher and Reese Witherspoon posing awkwardly while promoting "​​Your Place or Mine" went viral, the actor credited the images with helping him avoid affair rumors.

Over the weekend, the photos of Kutcher and Witherspoon were recirculated online with many noting the Netflix co-stars looked uncomfortable and kept their hands to themselves during their press tour.

Kutcher, who will appear in the Wednesday episode of the"Chicks in the Office" podcast, said his wife Mila Kunis also noticed the odd photos.

"My wife called me. She texted me and Reese together. She's like, 'Guys, you gotta, like, act like you each other.' And I'm like, 'What's going on?' Here's the thing: If I put my arm around her and was, like, all friendly with her, I'd be having an affair with her — the rumor would be that I'm having an affair with her," Kutcher said in a clip of the upcoming podcast episode.

Instead of risking the start of scandalous rumors, Kutcher went with what he believed was the safer option.

"If I stand next to her, I put my hands in my pockets so there's no chance that, like, that could be the rumor — the rumor is we don't like each other," he explained.

"Reese and I are really good friends. We're really close. I don't have to defend that. I don't have to defend it."

Kutcher went on to suggest that he and Witherspoon may have looked awkward during the photocall due to photographers trying to get their attention.

"I can't hear very well. I'm hard of hearing in one ear and I can only hear in the other," the "That '90s Show" actor said.

"I don't know who's yelling my name, but I know there's a lot of people yelling, 'Reese! Ashton! Over here! Look at this one! Over here!' At a certain point you're looking, you're like, 'God, this is really something. OK, which one? Look at the camera. Got it. OK, are we done? Awesome.' For, like, 20 minutes."

Kutcher added, "If you're gonna tell me in that entire 20-minute period, at one point, you're not going to have an awkward face, then you're better than I am. And I'm cool with that."

Despite the awkward photos, Witherspoon revealed she enjoyed working with Kutcher and considers Kunis a good friend.

"He's so professional. He's the funniest guy," Witherspoon said during an appearance on "Today With Hoda & Jenna."

"I mean, such a goofball. We had so much fun, and every time he'd wear a funny outfit, I'd text Mila. I'd be like, 'What is he wearing?'"

Fans will have to wait a few more days before seeing whether Witherspoon and Kutcher have better chemistry on film.

"Your Place or Mine" will be available for streaming Friday on Netflix.

Ashton Kutcher
Ashton Kutcher came under fire this week after announcing the questions from his forthcoming "open dialogue" about gender inequality in the workplace. In this photo, Ashton Kutcher speaks onstage during The 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 29, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images