Tyriq Withers on Grief, Forgiveness, and Representation in ‘Reminders of Him’

Tyriq Withers didn’t anticipate the emotional depth rehearsals for his latest role would require. Whereas preparing for Reminders of Him, the new romantic drama arriving in theaters on March 13, the actor found himself shedding tears alongside co-star Maika Monroe.

“I think we were kind of thrown off at first about how in-depth the rehearsals would be, which brought us closer together,” Withers explained. “Next thing you know, we’re both crying in there. When somebody shows you their heart, you just wish to protect it a little bit more. I felt protective of Maika.”

That emotional connection extended beyond the set. “You want to have lunch together, you want to hang out, you want to ride four-wheelers, you want to karaoke. It was her birthday, she had family coming into town, so it was nice meeting her village.”

A Story of Grief and Redemption

Reminders of Him, based on the 2022 novel by Colleen Hoover, centers on themes of grief, redemption, and unexpected love. Withers plays Ledger, a local bar owner grappling with the loss of his best friend, Scotty.

The tragedy stems from Kenna (Maika Monroe), Scotty’s girlfriend, who was driving under the influence when the car crash occurred that resulted in Scotty’s death. After serving a seven-year prison sentence for vehicular manslaughter, Kenna returns home determined to rebuild her life and connect with the daughter she left behind [IMDb].

Personal Connections to the Role

Withers draws parallels between Ledger’s journey and his own life experiences. “I’m personally connected to the story in a lot of ways; dealing with grief, love, romance, grieving the football life that I once thought I would have,” he revealed. Withers previously pursued a career in football, hoping to reach the NFL.

The tragic loss of his older brother, Kionte, who died in a car accident in 2021, also deeply impacted his portrayal of Ledger. “I’m protective of my chosen family, and I have an undying love for my nephew.” In the film, Ledger has a niece who is Kenna and Scotty’s child. “But I think I’m a little more outgoing than Ledger carries himself to be.”

The Power of Forgiveness

At its core, the film explores the theme of forgiveness, something Withers believes begins with self-acceptance. “It starts with self-love and forgiving yourself and knowing that it’s okay that you are made of a bunch of mistakes,” he said.

“I think we’re an accumulation of all of our best moments and our worst moments. I didn’t seek to judge Ledger to understand him and his journey with forgiving Kenna. I think a lot of it was him forgiving himself for not being a more present friend. There’s a thought in his head that if he had been more present, things wouldn’t have unfolded the way they did.”

Representation and Breaking Barriers

Withers also highlighted the significance of representation in the film. In Colleen Hoover’s original novel, Ledger was not written as a Black character.

“In this story, reading the book, you don’t read it as somebody who looks like me. That was a part I had to navigate, and I was nervous,” he shared. The filmmakers encouraged him to fully embrace the role as himself.

“Simply being in this film is important, and I think it’s gonna open a lot of doors. I’m very open about my race and proud to be Black, and I’m glad that’s how it unfolded for the movie.”

In this love story, race is not a factor, which Withers sees as a refreshing aspect of the film.

Reminders of Him arrives in theaters on March 13 [People].