Jennifer Aniston’s marriage split ‘caused by Justin’s partying and closeness to art beauty’
After three years of marriage and seven years together, it turns out the Friends star was anything but 'content' with Justin who 'acted like he was single'
JENNIFER ANISTON’S announcement yesterday that she has split from Justin Theroux stunned fans who thought the Friends actress had finally found happiness.
But after three years of marriage and seven years together, it turns out she was anything but content.
Behind the scenes, the couple have been feuding for months as he became increasingly immersed in New York’s edgy art scene.
They only confirmed the break-up after journalists questioned Justin’s partying alone in the Big Apple.
Their carefully crafted statement emerged just two hours after one US media outlet contacted the couple about his behaviour.
It confirmed the “best friends” had “lovingly” separated late last year.
Those who know them tell a dramatically different story — and questions are already being asked about Justin’s closeness with one rising star of New York’s art scene, photographer Petra Collins.
One friend said: “The reality is he’s been partying with all sorts of people in New York and couldn’t have looked less like a married man.
“He’s even been telling people he’s single, while she spends most of her time in LA doing yoga, eating healthily and living a quiet life.
“They tried to imply they were announcing this to get on the front foot, but they feared the truth might emerge any minute. Too many people had started to realise.
“He’s been pretty much living in New York full time and growing close to other people, so it was only a matter of time.
“It’s sad this is how things have ended but they’re very, very different people — both want to move on as painlessly as possible.”
In their statement, the couple insisted: “We are two best friends who have decided to part ways as a couple, but look forward to continuing our cherished friendship.”
Despite their troubles, they spent the New Year break together in Mexico, alongside close pals including actor Jason Bateman.
But those in the know say it is a miracle the marriage lasted as long as it did.
Much of their time since tying the knot in 2015 has been spent miles apart — physically and in their outlook — but the past 18 months have seen things completely disintegrate.
Homely and down-to-earth, the former Friends actress, 49, spoke only this month of her love of the quiet life in LA, where she and Justin, 46, had built a dream home to settle down with their three dogs.
She told Architectural Digest mag: “I look around at my husband and my dogs and our home and there’s nowhere else I want to be.”
Insiders say their home will be going on the market, while Jennifer’s £160million fortune is reportedly protected by an “ironclad” prenuptial agreement. Among Justin’s new clique are artist Petra — labelled one of the Big Apple’s “It Girls” by Vanity Fair magazine — and acclaimed fashion designer Adam Selman.
Both were tight-lipped about the break-up when asked by The Sun. But it was Justin’s partying with their circle which exposed the cracks in his marriage.
A source said: “The arty scene really embraced him. He’s a quirky character with very diverse interests. He loves fashion, design and, weirdly, has a collection of human teeth.
“The reality is Jen just doesn’t fit in. She’s a home girl who likes cosy nights in with friends. He wants to feel cutting-edge and different.”
In recent months the pair have failed to appear anywhere together despite a string of significant events.
Jennifer attended Ellen DeGeneres’ A-list 60th birthday bash alone last week, even though Justin is also close to the chat show host.
It is in dramatic contrast to their highly publicised engagement in 2012, which saw the actor propose with an eight-carat diamond ring little more than a year after meeting as co-stars in the film Wanderlust. They quickly announced the news in a US celebrity magazine.
But friends feared her happiness could again be short-lived, following failed romances with actors Brad Pitt and Vince Vaughn, and rocker John Mayer.
One said: “Everybody knew they weren’t right for each other. Everyone except Jen. He’s charming, charismatic and very likeable but poles apart from her.
“They just didn’t have anything in common but she’s strong enough to do her own thing.
“He encouraged her to stay with him in New York, but she left that city lifestyle years ago.”
Jennifer is now preparing to regain her independence once again, throwing herself into work and launching a homeware range — all with the support of her A-list friends Jennifer Lawrence, Chelsea Handler, Amy Schumer and Courteney Cox.
And she is determined not to make the same mistakes again, after accepting she and Justin were incompatible from the start.
A friend added: “This is the last time she’ll get swept away by the charms of someone who isn’t right for her.
“She’s independent and stronger than she has ever been. She’s not reliant on anyone.”
Jen's exes
Jennifer was married to Hollywood star Brad Pitt from 2000 to 2005 but she has other famous exes too.
In 1995 she briefly dated Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz before getting together with actor Tate Donovan that same year.
The pair became engaged in 1997 but the following year they split and she started seeing Paul Rudd, her co-star in The Object Of My Affection.
Soon after her divorce from Brad, she dated actor Vince Vaughn, then in 2007 fell for British model Paul Sculfor.
She then moved to an on-off relationship with musician John Mayer, before reportedly starting a romance with Gerard Butler.