Jennifer Aniston shocked her fans when she made a rare public reference to her ex-husband Brad Pitt during her interview with Friends co-star Lisa Kudrow. The exchange saw Aniston reflect on some of the most memorable moments from the beloved sitcom, including the iconic Thanksgiving episodes and a long list of celebrity guest stars.During Variety’s “Actors on Actors” series, while discussing fan-favorite episodes, Aniston asked Kudrow if she enjoyed filming the annual Thanksgiving specials. “Yes. Those Thanksgiving episodes were great. When Brad was on the show, it was funny,” Kudrow responded warmly.
What Jennifer Aniston said about Brad Pitt and the celebrity guests on “Friends”
Aniston noted that it still entertains her to think about the level of celebrity who has come through the Friends group, citing Pitt alongside other notable guest stars including Bruce Willis, Julia Roberts, Isabella Rossellini and Sean Penn.
She also revealed that many of the show’s celebrity guests were surprisingly nervous about appearing on the sitcom despite their success in film and television, and Sean Penn was among those who felt the pressure.Kudrow spoke about the challenge the guest stars faced in finding the right tone. “Tense,” she said. “Well, what’s the tone? It’s not theatre, it’s for TV. It’s not a movie. What the hell is that? It’s a good question.”
“I remember someone asked me one time. I didn’t know how to explain it, so I said, ‘Oh, just talk louder.’ “Same intention, only louder.”Pitt made a memorable appearance in the Season 8 Thanksgiving episode titled “The One With the Rumor,” which aired in 2001. He played Will Colbert, a former high school classmate of Ross and Monica Geller who had a strong dislike for Rachel Green, Aniston’s character.
The lasting legacy of “Friends”
The conversation also touched on the show’s broader legacy.
Aniston and Kudrow starred alongside Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and the late Matthew Perry throughout the show’s ten-season run from 1994 to 2004. The cast negotiated their contracts together, eventually earning $1 million per episode during the final two seasons. They later reunited for the “Friends: The Reunion” special in 2021, and were reportedly paid $2.5 million each for their appearance.
Personal life of Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt
At the time Pitt filmed his role in Friends, he and Aniston were one of the most famous couples in Hollywood. The couple began dating in 1998, and married in a lavish wedding in Malibu in 2000, before announcing their separation in January 2005.Since their breakup, they have both moved on. Pitt later married actress Angelina Jolie, with whom he had six children, before the two filed for divorce in 2016. Despite the years that have passed, the former couple maintained a friendly relationship. Pitt attended Aniston’s 50th birthday celebration in 2019, and the duo delighted fans when they shared a heartwarming moment backstage at the 2020 Screen Actors Guild Awards.Pitt is now said to be in a relationship with Ines De Ramon, while Aniston is dating health expert Jim Curtis.