After a decade of having her every move scrutinised by the tabloid press, Jennifer Aniston had had enough. Earlier this year, she published a powerful open letter in the *Huffington Post*, which criticised the ‘sport-like scrutiny and body shaming that occurs daily under the guise of “journalism,” the ‘First Amendment” and “celebrity news.”’
Her essay came after photos of Aniston on holiday with her husband Justin Theroux were published alongside pregnancy rumours, and was widely shared on social media. Titled ‘For The Record,’ it took task with the way in which a woman’s value is tied up in her physical appearance, ‘which tabloids turn into a sporting event of speculation. Is she pregnant? Is she eating too much? Has she let herself go? Is her marriage on the rocks because the camera detects some physical “imperfection?”’
Now, the actress has spoken to Marie Claire US about what led her to break her silence on tabloid pregnancy rumours, explaining how she had felt shamed for almost every aspect of her life. ‘My marital status has been shamed. My divorce status was shamed; my lack of a mate had been shamed, my nipples have been shamed,’ she tells the magazine.
‘It’s like, “Why are we only looking at women through this particular lens of picking us apart? Why are we listening to it?”’ she adds. ‘I just thought: I have worked too hard in this life and this career to be whittled down to a sad childless human.’
When asked about her relationship with husband Justin Theroux, which inevitably has been the subject of yet more speculation following the announcement that her ex Brad Pitt would be divorcing Angelina Jolie, Jennifer describes the actor as 'the right person for [her.]'
'I feel completely seen, and adored, in no matter what state. There's no part of me that I don't feel comfortable showing, exposing,' she adds. 'It brings forth the best part of myself, because I care about him so much.'
READ MORE: Angelina Jolie Retains Sole Custody Of Her Children With Brad Pitt
READ MORE: Justin Theroux Doesn't Mind Being Nicknamed 'Mr Jennifer Aniston'