It’s a day that doesn’t help the hope of an already jaded-hearted.
As we all have heard – and taken a moment to process in our own individual ways – Brangelina is no longer.
Hollywood’s longtime “it” couple has called it quits, with news breaking earlier today that Angelina Jolie had filed for divorce from Brad Pitt just weeks after the pair celebrated their wedding anniversary at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
It’s weird to type the words. They were one of those couples you thought would last forever.
Image: www.ibtimes.com
In the midst of the mass social media shock, it didn’t take long for Jennifer Aniston memes to flood the Internet, showing Aniston in stages of glee. Many involve classic quotes from Friends. By mid-day today, Jennifer Aniston was the second most trending topic on Twitter.
As you’ll recall, Pitt and Aniston were married once-upon-a-time, before he signed the contract to co-star in 2005’s Mr. and Mrs. Smith with Jolie. We all know what happened next.
And yes, it’s safe to say that Aniston got the short end of that stick.
The pain of a crumbling marriage is brutal enough, if even behind closed doors. Can you imagine if your husband moved on from you with Angelina freakin’ Jolie for the entire world to see thanks to headlines and photos that dominated tabloids complete with cheating allegations?
I can’t.
Not to mention, it wasn’t too much after Aniston filed for divorce that she had to see the massive W magazine photo shoot of Pitt and Jolie that positioned them as (a very sexy) husband and wife with a family. The Brangelina baby rumours followed shortly after.
Image: W magazine
Aniston has famously said there is a “sensitivity chip that is missing” when it comes to Pitt and his treatment of their situation post-separation. In her first interview after the split, Aniston said, “I’d be a robot if I said I didn’t feel moments of anger, of hurt, of embarrassment.”
You couldn’t help but feel bad for Aniston, and anyone who had been brokenhearted could relate to her struggles.
Instead of appreciating this woman’s inevitable pain, the media have had a heyday with her ever since, scrutinizing everything from her body to her marital and maternal status (or lack thereof) on the regular. Countless headlines have either cried “Poor Jen” or asked “Is Jennifer Aniston Pregnant?!”
She was portrayed as the unlucky-in-love, lonely girl-next-door whose husband left her for the most beautiful woman on the planet – she was depicted as somewhat of a sob story.
Image: www.smh.com.au
Despite her success and inevitable beauty, Aniston remains one of the most objectified women in Hollywood when it comes to her personal life.
The recent pregnancy scrutiny got so brutal that it prompted Aniston to write an article in the Huffington Post on the matter in July. “For the record, I am not pregnant. What I am is fed up,” writes Aniston. And anyone in her shoes would be.
I have always liked Jennifer Aniston. Those I know who know her say she is super chill, loyal, and (not surprisingly) funny.
Unlike some of her former Friends castmates, Aniston’s career didn’t tank once Rachel Green became a thing of late-night reruns, either. If you question her range, you just have to watch her in 2014’s raw and gritty Cake to know that Aniston’s acting chops go well beyond her typical light, rom-com type roles.
And by the way, can I mention how hot her husband is?
Image: www.thestar.com
But back to the memes. Do you think that Aniston wants to be reminded of the era of “Team Angelina” vs. “Team Jen” (let alone her “Rachel” haircut) in such a way every time she logs into the Internet?
Sure, some memes may claim that it’s now Jen who has the last laugh, but that’s beside the point. I’m not trying to be overly sensitive or unable to take a joke (seriously, those people annoy me). I will admit, some of the memes are funny and are indeed intended as messages of support for Aniston. I get that. But most of it is unnecessary.
My point is that she is in the spotlight yet again for her personal life – and it’s not even her personal life anymore.
So can’t we just leave Jen alone?
The sad reality of this is that the parting couple has six kids together. Not to mention, the allegations of substance abuse and anger issues reveal a darker side to the man who once embodied everything about classic Hollywood royalty.
And that’s the sad part.
As for Aniston’s reaction, don’t expect her to say much.
“Let me start by saying that addressing gossip is something I have never done,” reads the first line in her recent article. She also reminds us of some sound, resonating truth a few paragraphs later:
“We get to determine our own ‘happily ever after’ for ourselves,” she wrote.
And it looks like the headstrong Aniston is the one living happily ever after out of anyone.
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