Another day, another celebrity breakup to crush our hearts and question our belief in love. After seven years together and two years of marriage, Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux have announced that they separated at the end of last year.
According to a statement provided to People by Jennifer Aniston’s team, the couple wanted to get ahead of the rumor mill and address speculation about their relationship status, which many had been questioning after Theroux was noticeably absent from Aniston’s 49th birthday celebration this past Sunday.
“In an effort to reduce any further speculation, we have decided to announce our separation,” their joint statement reads. “This decision was mutual and lovingly made at the end of last year. We are two best friends who have decided to part ways as a couple, but look forward to continuing our cherished friendship.”
“Normally we would do this privately, but given that the gossip industry cannot resist an opportunity to speculate and invent, we wanted to convey the truth directly,” the statement continues. :Whatever else is printed about us that is not directly from us, is someone else’s fictional narrative. Above all, we are determined to maintain the deep respect and love that we have for one another.”
Considering it was not even a year ago that Theroux’s adorable words about his wife and their super private, secret wedding ceremony officially made him our new standard for boyfriend goals, the couple’s decision to split is heartbreaking — and we definitely didn’t see it coming. Despite our devastation, it sounds like even though the romantic spark is no longer there, we can at least take comfort in the fact that they’re trying to save their friendship and remain respectful of one another.
It also doesn’t hurt (as many quickly pointed out), that there’s another silver lining to the whole thing — and it’s the fact that there may still yet be hope for one of the most iconic couples of the early ’00s. Yes, it’s the first time that Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt have both been single in, well, years. And it didn’t take long for the Internet to put two and two together.
#JenniferAniston
When u realize both Jennifer Aniston & Brad Pitt are now single pic.twitter.com/Y9cxfIWQyH— Sonia Grace (@Sonia_GoodGirl) February 15, 2018
My reaction to Jennifer Aniston separation newsbut realized both her and Brad Pitt are single pic.twitter.com/RJj9UWxgxg
— Hani Lee (@HaniLee1) February 15, 2018
Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston are getting back together. I called it first. #JenniferAniston pic.twitter.com/2BPeomEwbi
— marissa (@mersshhh) February 15, 2018
Somewhere, Jennifer Aniston is crafting her “Hey, let’s grab coffee and catch up” text to Brad Pitt. https://t.co/pXLGo7O4Mp
— Madeline Hill (@mad_hill) February 15, 2018
Of course, it’s all just speculation at this point — but then again, Aniston and Pitt were reportedly exchanging a few friendly texts early last year following Pitt’s divorce from Angelina Jolie, so we’re not about to rule anything out yet.