NEW YORK, Oct 10 — Jennifer Aniston has revealed she privately underwent unsuccessful IVF treatments for two decades while facing relentless media speculation about her decision not to have children, according to Harper’s Bazaar.
The actress told the magazine that tabloids falsely portrayed her as selfish and career-obsessed during a time when she was actually struggling with fertility issues.
“They didn’t know my story, or what I’d been going through over the past 20 years to try to pursue a family, because I don’t go out there and tell them my medical woes,” Aniston said.
She explained that she finally spoke out in a 2016 Huffington Post op-ed because the constant narrative about her refusing to have a baby had become unbearable.
Aniston previously called the rumours that her 2005 divorce from Brad Pitt resulted from her prioritizing career over starting a family “absolute lies”.
The Friends star said she decided to address the issue publicly not only for herself but also for other women dealing with IVF and fertility struggles.
The 56-year-old actress discussed her revelation during an interview at her Bel-Air mansion while promoting the latest season of The Morning Show, which she stars in and executive produces alongside Reese Witherspoon.
Aniston expressed concern that while traditional tabloid culture has weakened, cruelty has simply migrated to social media where “any schmuck can stay anonymous and write whatever the hell they want.”
The actress shared that she maintains close friendships with her Friends castmates, including regular dinners with Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow, describing them as family.
She reflected on the death of co-star Matthew Perry in 2023, saying: “It’s heartbreaking that he had so many demons, but boy, for someone who had that much inner turmoil, he sure got to laugh a lot.”
Aniston said that without Perry, there would never be a Friends remake or sequel, calling it “literally, physically impossible.”
The actress discussed her career evolution from being typecast as Rachel Green to proving her dramatic range in films like The Good Girl and Cake.
She expressed optimism about opportunities for older actresses in Hollywood, noting that “the societal idea of an expiration date just doesn’t exist anymore.”
Aniston also revealed her anxiety about artificial intelligence and deepfakes, which frequently impersonate her in advertisements and scams.
The actress is currently preparing to film the Apple TV+ series I’m Glad My Mom Died in New York and has been romantically linked to wellness expert Jim Curtis since summer 2024.
