Justin Theroux Sets the Record Straight on His Breakup With Jennifer Aniston

Anyone who has been in a long-term relationship knows that remaining friends with an ex is a near-impossible task. It takes a lot of patience, a good dose of maturity, and even still—it has to be the right combination of people. In Esquire's latest cover story, Justin Theroux explains how he and ex Jennifer Aniston have managed to pull it off.

Theroux says they remain on good terms after divorcing in 2018. Since details of the couple's split remained sparse, tabloid media settled on the story that Aniston wanted a life in Los Angeles; Theroux, in New York. "Look, people create narratives that make themselves feel better or simplify things for them," he tells Esquire for its April/May issue. "That whole ‘This person likes rock ’n’ roll, that person likes jazz. Of course!’ That’s just not the case. It’s an oversimplification."

Being cordial is one thing, but friendship is another. On Aniston's birthday this year, Theroux posted a picture of her on his Instagram, wishing her a happy birthday. "I would say we’ve remained friends,” he says. “We don’t talk every day, but we call each other. We FaceTime. We text.” Theroux chocks it up to a lot of love and a maturity between the two of them.

“Like it or not, we didn’t have that dramatic split, and we love each other,” he says. “I’m sincere when I say that I cherish our friendship... It would be a loss if we weren’t in contact, for me personally. And I’d like to think the same for her.”

As for advice for someone trying to replicate that same kind of energy in their own life, Theroux's assessment of the situation is to not overcomplicate a good thing. “I think that when you get good at relationships—and here I am, single—if you love the person the same way you loved them in the relationship, it would behoove you to love them the same way out of the relationship,” he says. “Who wants to take a shit while you’re walking out the door?”

Touché.

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