Jennifer Aniston reveals her parents’ divorce was so nasty as she ended up a ‘pawn’ which drove her to therapy

by

Jennifer Aniston did not have any easy childhood.

In the November issue of Harper’s Bazaar, 56-year-old actress Jennifer Aniston shared that her parents, John Aniston and Nancy Dow, had a difficult and acrimonious divorce.

During a particularly bitter feud, the future movie star was used as a tool in their efforts to get revenge on each other.

As someone who’s followed family dynamics for years, I’ve noticed a big shift in how we handle divorce. It’s fascinating to look back – when I think about divorces happening a generation or two ago, parents simply didn’t have the resources or understanding we do now to really support their kids through it. It was a different time, and they were navigating uncharted territory, doing the best they could with what they knew.

The perennial ‘it’ girl of Hollywood was only nine years old at the time.

She remembered their divorce being extremely difficult, and said that at the time, people didn’t really understand how to minimize the impact on their child.

My parents weren’t really concerned about that; they were more worried about how they were hurting each other. I felt like I was just caught in the middle.

Honestly, it broke my heart when she talked about needing therapy. She mentioned, and I swear I’ve known this all along, that she’s been in therapy a lot, and it’s seriously what keeps her from, like, totally losing it. It’s amazing, really, that she’s managed to stay so grounded with everything she’s been through, and it’s all thanks to that work she’s put in. I’m just so proud of her for prioritizing her mental health!

The actress also described her parents as hilarious and said she grew up in a home filled with laughter.

She found comedy to be a real source of comfort, first by watching it on TV, and eventually by pursuing it as her focus in acting.

She attended a performing-arts school in Manhattan and worked tirelessly auditioning for roles. Then, in 1994, a group of friends came along and changed everything for her.

‘There’s something about the chemistry of the cast that made for a lightning-in-a-bottle moment,’ she reflected, ‘and that just happened to get caught on camera.’

I was so thrilled to hear her talk about ageism in her recent interview! She hit the nail on the head when she said the idea that people have an ‘expiration date’ is completely outdated – it’s an old way of thinking that just doesn’t make sense anymore.

We make up over half the population, and let’s be honest, many of you wouldn’t even be here without us.

The Morning Show star noted that older women have incredible insights to offer, and the film industry is finally starting to recognize and appreciate that.

Aniston also revealed she endured a 20-year secret battle to have a baby.

The actor discussed the untrue story that she chose not to have children because she was seen as someone who prioritized work over everything else.

She explained that people weren’t aware of her struggles over the last two decades to start a family, because she keeps her personal health issues private.

It’s really none of anyone else’s concern, but it’s gotten to the point where I can’t ignore the rumors. People are saying I won’t have a baby or a family because they think I’m too focused on my career and myself.

Of course it bothers me – I’m only human, and so is everyone else. That’s what made me think, ‘Why not?’

However, the older Jennifer gets, the less she feels the need to ‘correct a false narrative’.

She explained: ‘The news cycle is so fast, it just goes away. 

Let me tell you, as someone who really values authenticity, there’s nothing that bothers me more than when I hear something untrue. It just feels *wrong*, and I have a natural instinct to set the record straight. It’s about doing what’s right, you know?

‘And then I think, do I really? My family knows my truth, my friends know my truth.’ 

Jennifer and Brad Pitt were married from 2000 to 2005. Their marriage ended after Brad met Angelina Jolie while filming the movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

In 2022, Jennifer shared the heartbreaking news that her attempts at IVF hadn’t worked. She also expressed regret that she hadn’t frozen her eggs when she was younger.

‘It was a challenging road for me, the baby-making road,’ Jennifer said at the time.

In my late thirties and forties, I faced some incredibly difficult challenges. Looking back, I realize those experiences were essential to my personal growth and helped me become the person I am today. During that time, I was also trying to get pregnant.

After years of trying and wondering, it was a really difficult time. I was undergoing IVF treatments, trying various remedies like Chinese teas – honestly, I was trying everything I could to get pregnant.

I wish someone had told me to consider freezing my eggs earlier. It just didn’t cross my mind at the time, and now it’s too late. But honestly, I don’t dwell on it – I’ve made peace with how things turned out.

Jennifer was 35 years old when she and Brad separated, and she firmly denied claims that he left her because she didn’t want to have children. Brad later had six children with Angelina Jolie: Maddox, Pax, and Zahara, who were adopted, and Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne, who are their biological children.

The couple publicly separated in 2016 following a private argument on a plane, where Angelina alleged Brad had mistreated her and their children. Reports suggest Brad currently has very little, if any, communication with them.

Oh, and then my queen, Jennifer, finally married Justin Theroux in 2015! She was 46, and I was SO happy for her. Sadly, it just wasn’t meant to be. They divorced after only three years, and honestly, my heart broke all over again. I just want her to find happiness!

The November issue of Harper’s Bazaar UK is on sale from October 9. 

Read More

2025-10-09 22:34