Jennifer Aniston’s quiet show of support for Justin Theroux just turned a deeply personal moment into a bittersweet celebrity story.
Theroux, 54, and his wife Nicole Brydon Bloom, 32, announced the birth of their first child together on Saturday with a black-and-white Instagram photo of the actor holding their newborn son on his chest. “He’s here. We are so in love,” they wrote. Among the wave of celebrity reactions was one that stood out fast. Aniston, Theroux’s ex-wife, liked the post.
That small move said a lot. Aniston and Theroux may have ended their marriage years ago, but they have kept a rare kind of post-split bond alive, and her public support gave the baby news an extra emotional edge.
A Friendly Exes Story With Extra Weight
Aniston and Theroux were married from 2015 to 2018 after reconnecting while working on the 2011 comedy ‘Wanderlust’. When they split, they described the decision as mutual and “lovingly made,” adding that they planned to continue their “cherished friendship.” That promise seems to have held.
Over the years, the two have exchanged birthday tributes and spoken warmly about each other. In a 2024 interview with The Times, Theroux said he still feels “protective” of Aniston and added, “She is still very dear to me.”
He later explained why he prefers to keep his private life out of the spotlight. “There’s something to, once you’re out of that, where I want all of my relationships to exist within the four walls of whatever room we’re in,” he said. “I talk to Jen. I don’t talk about Jen.” He also added, “Having been in a public relationship, it’s much more fun not being in a public relationship.” That history made Aniston’s reaction feel warm, but also a little heavy.
Why This Baby News Hits a Tender Nerve
Children have long been a sensitive subject for Aniston, who has spoken openly about her fertility struggles and failed IVF journey. On the October 20 episode of the ‘Armchair Expert’ podcast, she said, “There’s a point where it’s like out of my control. There’s literally nothing I can do about it.”
She also spoke candidly about what she wanted for herself. “When people say, ‘But you can adopt,’ I don’t want to adopt. I want my own DNA in a little person.” Looking back, she said, “It just wasn’t in the plan, whatever the plan was. It’s very emotional.” That is what gives this story its sting. Aniston’s like was gracious and supportive. It also came against the backdrop of a dream she once said did not happen for her.
Theroux, meanwhile, has moved into a busy new chapter. He and Bloom married in Tulum in March 2025 after first being linked in 2023. Bloom recently shared that her pregnancy had been going well after a rough first trimester. On screen, she is expected back for season four of HBO’s ‘The Gilded Age’, while Theroux is set to appear in season two of Netflix’s ‘Running Point’, premiering Thursday, and in ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’, due in theaters on May 1.
