Jennifer Aniston Admits Her ‘Challenging Upbringing’ & Family Dynamic Influenced Her Approach To Relationships

Aug 24, 2023 by apost team

Jennifer Aniston is one of the most beloved American actresses in the entertainment industry. The actress rose to fame in 1994 thanks to her role as Rachel Green on the television sitcom, "Friends," which earned her three awards. Aniston went on to star in more hit movies like "We're the Millers," "Horrible Bosses," "Murder Mystery" and many others.

As a famous actress, Aniston's personal life is not alien to the public. During an Aug. 22, 2023 interview with WSJ Magazine, the "Office Space" actress let fans in on how her relationship with her parents influenced her approach to her other personal relationships. 

Over the years, the "Friends" alum has been romantically linked in several relationships. Her love life played out in the public eye with fellow stars like Daniel McDonald, Tate Donovan, Brad Pitt, and Justin Theroux. Among Aniston's relationship partners, the actress first tied the knot with Brad Pitt on July 29, 2000. In January 2005, the duo announced that they were separating. Aniston officially filed for divorce in March, with everything finalized in Oct. 2005. 

On Aug. 5, 2015, Aniston and Theroux got married. However, in Feb. 2018, the former couple announced their split after being married for two and a half years. In 2019, the "Cake" actress opened up about her marriages to Pitt and Theroux. 

She said, "My marriages, they've been very successful, in (my) personal opinion," and went on to include that their separation was "because we chose to be happy, and sometimes happiness doesn't exist within that arrangement anymore." Aniston also added, "To stay in a marriage based on fear feels like you're doing your one life a disservice." 

In 2021, Aniston told People that she was looking to try a relationship outside the industry. This was most likely linked to her parents, John Aniston and Nancy Dow, being actors. The pair were married from 1965 to 1980. Unfortunately, John disappeared from his family without any warning, which caught Aniston and her mother off-guard.

Aniston has always been public about her relationship with her parents. In December 2019, the actress posted a throwback picture on her Instagram page. The image showed the actress as a young girl with arms wrapped around her father. 

In 1999, the actress told Rolling Stone that her dad returned a year later after abandoning her. She described those years as confusing and numb until his return when she started seeing him during the weekends. A source close to Aniston shared in 2020 that she reconnected with her father during the pandemic. Unfortunately, on Nov. 14, 2022, John passed away, and she penned a touching tribute to him on Instagram. She wrote:

"Sweet papa…⁣ John Anthony Aniston. You were one of the most beautiful humans I ever knew. I am so grateful that you went soaring into the heavens in peace- and without pain. And on 11/11 no less! You always had perfect timing. That number will forever hold an even greater meaning for me now 🕊️I’ll love you till the end of time💔 ⁣Don’t forget to visit 💫🤗❤️"

Aniston also had a rocky relationship with her mother. In 2015, she shared how Dow used to be critical of her and had a temper. She also reflected on her "challenging upbringing" with her mother in 2018 and how she always told her to learn how to look out for herself. Dow unfortunately passed away in 2016.

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A few years have passed since the death of Aniston's parents, Dow And John, but the actress still has a lot to say. For the cover story of WSJ Magazine's Fall Women's Fashion Issue, the "Dumplin" actress got candid about the impact of her parents' dynamic on her personal life. She shared:

"It was always a little bit difficult for me in relationships, I think, because I really was kind of alone. My parents, watching my family's relationship, didn't make me kind of go, 'Oh, I can't wait to do that.'"

“The Morning Show” star further explained that her parents' separation at such a young age affected her and also influenced her approach to all her relationships. She shared that their divorce did not give her any "real training" in how to be in a "give-and-take" relationship. Aniston explained:

"I didn't like the idea of sacrificing who you were or what you needed, so I didn't really know how to do that. So it was almost easier to just be kind of solo. So I didn't have any real training in that give-and-take."

The A-lister also told the outlet that her current focus was solely based on her needs and desires. She also talked about her challenge in relationships, which is "not being afraid to say what you need and what you want." Back in 2020, the producer described her childhood as growing up in a "destabilized" and "unsafe" home. She further shared that the experience helped her remain afloat when things did not go as planned. 

What are your thoughts on how Jennifer Aniston navigates her personal relationships? Can you recur some core childhood memories that shaped your adult life? Let us know, and be sure to pass this on to other Aniston fans.