JEN’S CIRCLE GIVES JUSTIN ‘ THE SILENT TREATMENT’
When Justin theroux candidly opened up about his split from Jennifer Aniston in September, he claimed it had been ‘gentle’ and ‘painless’, adding, ‘Neither one of us is dead, neither of us is looking to throw hatchets at each other.’
Yet eyebrows were raised among observers, who noted that it came after months of reported acrimony between the couple, especially given that Justin has been linked to a string of A-list women in the months after their February split.
Now, multiple sources have told Grazia that Jennifer’s A-list ‘clique’ are ‘giving Justin the silent treatment’ after she has privately made it clear that their split is far from the amicable picture he has painted.
‘As hard as Justin has tried to play the nice guy and appease Jen, it has only infuriated her further,’ said a well-placed source. ‘He is no longer welcome in her circle – and that’s a tough place to be if you’re a Hollywood actor like Justin. Jen is incredibly well-liked in the industry and holds a lot of power. You wouldn’t want to cross her and, as much as he denies it, Justin has really upset her.’
According to the insider, Justin, ‘can’t help but feel that, because Jen is being so cold with him, the walls are closing in on him in Hollywood. He’s desperate for peace talks to turn things around, but when Jen shuts someone out, that’s it.’
It comes after Justin, 47, was pictured in Paris with 28-year-old actor Laura Harrier last month, who he had already been spotted with aboard a yacht and then again at Hôtel du Cap-eden-roc in Antibes in May, ahead of the Louis Vuitton Cruise 2019 show. The new romance was said to have angered Jen, while insiders say there is also still tension over the details of their divorce – including their finances.
‘ There are certain elements, including their business affairs, that they have yet to sort out and have been very slow to agree on,’ said the source. ‘It’s really angered Jen to see him talk about their marriage as if it’s all breezy. They are singing from completely different hymn sheets, and Jen thinks he’s being bold if he seriously believes there won’t be any consequences.’
Last week, a second insider reported that Jen was taking her ‘silent treatment’ one step further – by organising a Christmas holiday to Mexico and only including the Hollywood friends who have shown her ‘100% loyalty’ since her split from Justin.
‘Jen wants to lift her spirits by organising a Christmas getaway this year,’ said an insider. ‘She’s planning a trip to Mexico with her close friends Jason Bateman and his wife Amanda Anka. She’s really leaned on them over the last year and they’re all closer than ever.’
According to the source, Jennifer has decided not to invite other high-profile friends on the trip, including Jimmy Kimmel and Howard Stern, because they have ‘not severed ties with Justin and continue to pal around with him. That’s not the case with the Batemans, who are fiercely loyal to Jen and won’t even be seen in the same room with one of her exes.’
Interestingly, Mexico was where, last December, Jennifer and Justin were pictured on holiday celebrating New Year, apparently putting months of rumours that they were on the cusp of divorce behind them. But, just weeks later, they confirmed in an official statement that their marriage had indeed come to an end.
‘Jen is starting the new year with a ton of exciting projects, like her TV work with Reese Witherspoon, and is throwing herself back into her career,’ said a source. ‘She wants to put this split behind her and, to cope, she has been heavily focused on her work ever since it happened.
‘She just wants to surround herself with people she trusts, and she is hoping that this holiday will allow her to start 2019 the right way.’