How Brad won over Jen’s friends
IF YOU HAVE ever been through a messy break-up, but then later decided to make amends with said ex who – let’s just say – cheated, you will know that your best friends have some firm views on the matter.
So, when Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston decided that they were going to put what has become known in polite society as Hollywood’s Messiest-ever Break-up behind them, it’s unsurprising that Jen’s best friend, and former Friends co-star, Courteney Cox had something to say about it.
Back when Brad and Jen first started communicating again, around 18 months ago, Courteney was ‘extremely cautious’, says Grazia’s source. However, following last week’s most recent encounter – at an Oscars party at Hollywood manager Guy Oseary’s house – Grazia has learned that it is Courteney who is now one of the biggest champions of the renewed friendship.
‘Courteney has Jen’s back more than anyone else in her life,’ they add. ‘Naturally Courteney, along with some of Jen’s other close friends, such as Chelsea Handler, Jason Bateman’s wife Amanda Anka and jewellery designer Jennifer Meyer, were wary that Brad might be using a renewed friendship with Jen to turn around the disastrous PR he had following his split from Angelina. But it’s clear he is genuine: they speak regularly, support each other’s success and have the kind of love for one another that can’t be faked. The friendship is very real, and Courteney can see it’s something really beneficial in Jen’s life.’
While they have been quietly socialising for more than a year (Brad was spotted at Jen’s 50th birthday party a year ago), the turning point for their public relationship was last month’s SAG Awards, where they were photographed warmly greeting each other backstage. Then, last Sunday, they were spotted hanging out at the annual super-exclusive post-oscars event thrown by Madonna’s manager Guy Oseary, where phones are banned and the biggest A-listers go to let their hair down. Two days later, Courteney celebrated Jennifer’s 51st birthday at a party in LA, although Brad is not thought to have attended.
‘A year ago it would have been inconceivable that Brad and Jen would be hanging out at parties with friends, without causing a tsunami of rumours they were getting back together,’ says Grazia’s source. ‘Going public with the fact they are close again at the SAGS wasn’t an easy decision to make, but it did open a door for them to try and reach a normal, easy friendship.’
After Brad and Angelina split in 2016, Courteney was said to be ‘furious’ that Jen had been dragged into the narrative once again, with blogs and social media posts suggesting that she would be celebrating the end of their relationship. ‘I feel like we’re exacerbating it by even talking about it,’ she told Entertainment Tonight, when asked about the public reaction. ‘It’s not about her.’
Grazia’s source says that Courteney wasn’t happy with Brad for years prior to this. ‘She was incredibly hurt by how he behaved and angry at how he left things,’ says the source, before adding that Courteney – who is in a relationship with Snow Patrol singer Johnny Mcdaid – is now actively encouraging the friendship. ‘She can see how healing it has been for both of them to move on, after this huge cultural movement that followed their relationship breakdown and how damaging that was for Jen. It’s a new chapter, and Courteney is happy she has both friends in her life again, too.’