While the whole world collectively mourns the surprise separation of Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux , the reason behind their split, after a seven-year romantic relationship and two-year marriage, was allegedly in part because Theroux and Aniston couldn’t choose what city to live in. Aniston wanted to be in Los Angeles; Theroux wanted to be in New York.
A source told ET that Theroux considers himself a New Yorker and never wanted to be in Hollywood as all his friends are based in N.Y.C. “He much prefers being [in New York] and that’s been a major issue for them for a long time,” the source said. “Justin has a very diverse friend group, and he likes that they’re not all ‘in the industry.’ He’s friends with people in the restaurant world, writers, comedians, artists, tattoo artists. It’s an eclectic group and he doesn’t have that type of network in L.A.”
Some think Aniston couldn’t do New York in part because of the paparazzi attention she attracted. While Theroux can go around not being photographed, Aniston, who is more recognized, couldn’t as easily. But the two tried to make it work: “He really wanted her to be comfortable [in New York]. He even negotiated with the paps to make a deal that they would only shoot her once per day and then leave her alone. He also agreed to move out of his [Greenwich Village] apartment, which he loves.”
Sources say they moved to the West Village, but their neighbors weren’t fans of them because Aniston attracted paparazzi, waiting outside for her. “It made for an awkward living situation for Jen and Justin because they knew the neighbors weren’t happy,” the an insider said. At worst, Theroux one day found his motorcycle covered in slices of bologna, something Aniston was convinced the neighbors had done. They sold their apartment, and Theroux agreed to move to L.A. But he went back to N.Y.C. often, staying in his original Greenwich Village apartment when he went to the city for work. “He was bicoastal, she was not,” the source said.
Ultimately, leading very different lives resulted in a split, though they really did love each other. “They really were a great couple. And they cared a lot about each other. Justin was always really protective of her,” the source said. “They both wanted this to work.”
Us Weekly reported that the two had one last couples’ vacation with Jason Bateman and his wife Amanda Anka to try to make things work. “Jason Bateman’s wife convinced Justin to go to Cabo,” a source told the outlet. “She has been the mediator in recent months, trying to get Jen and Justin to work through their problems and save their marriage. The Cabo trip was a make or break vacation for Jen and Justin. They went away with their friends hoping to have fun and work on it.” But Aniston stuck with Anka; Theroux with Bateman. “It didn’t work.”
And, despite the couple being worth an estimated $240 million ($220 million Aniston, $20 million Theroux), Us Weekly reports finances won’t be contested in their divorce as they signed a strict prenup. “Jennifer has an ironclad prenup with Justin,” a source said. “It would be very hard for Justin to contest it. The prenup talks before the marriage were long and intense. Jen’s assets and Friends fortune are protected.”
