Jennifer Aniston had a tumultuous relationship with both of her parents, John Aniston and Nancy Dow. However, they reconciled before her mom and dad died.
Jennifer Aniston Talked About Forgiving Her Parents
Aniston graced the cover of Allure's December 2022 issue. In her interview with the magazine, she opened up about the importance of forgiveness. She, herself, forgave her parents years after she had been estranged from them.
"I forgave my mom," she told Allure. "I forgave my father. I've forgiven my family."
"It’s important. It’s toxic to have that resentment, that anger. I learned that by watching my mom never let go of it. I remember saying, ‘Thank you for showing me what never to be.’ So that’s what I mean about taking the darker things that happen in our lives, the not-so-happy moments, and trying to find places to honor them because of what they have given to us."
How Was Jennifer Aniston's Relationship With Her Mom, Nancy Dow?
Aniston blamed her parents' divorce for her mom's behavior. She had been estranged from her for years. Their relationship went downhill following her success in 1994 with her sitcom Friends.
"I think my mom's divorce really screwed her up," Aniston told Allure. "Back in that generation it wasn't like, 'Go to therapy, talk to somebody. Why don't you start microdosing?' You're going through life and picking up your child with tears on your face and you don't have any help."
In a previous interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Aniston shared her mom's fixation on her appearance.
"She was very critical of me. Because she was a model, she was gorgeous and stunning. I wasn't," she said. "She was also very unforgiving. She would hold grudges that I just found so petty."
In her 2006 interview with Vanity Fair, she said they had begun to "exchange messages" and were "taking baby steps," which was a good thing.
“I feel pretty good about the choices I’ve made,” she continued. “The choice of not speaking to Mom for a while—that’s ours. Nobody else has to understand it … I wouldn’t change my childhood, I wouldn’t change my heartaches, I wouldn’t change my successes.”
Dow passed away on May 25, 2016.
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How Was Jennifer Aniston's Relationship With Her Dad, John Aniston?
Jennifer Aniston admitted that she hadn't seen her dad for a while when her parents split. She attended a birthday party, and when she returned home, her mom just told her, "Your father's not going to be around here for a little while."
After a year, John called his daughter, and they met again.
"He just called one day and said, 'Let's go see The Fantasticks.' So we had a little dinner and saw the show. After that, I started seeing him on weekends, and this new way of life just unfolded," she told Rolling Stone in 1999.
"As best he could, my dad explained and apologized, and it's enough. We've made up," she said. "There are still parts that are hard for me, but I'm an adult. I can't blame my parents anymore."
Aniston's dad passed away on Nov. 11. She paid tribute to him on Instagram following his death.
She shared a series of photos of them, including one when she was a baby and he was carrying her in his arms.
"Sweet papa… John Anthony Aniston
You were one of the most beautiful humans I ever knew," Aniston wrote. "I am so grateful that you went soaring into the heavens in peace - and without pain. And on 11/11 no less! You always had perfect timing. That number will forever hold an even greater meaning for me now 🕊️ I'll love you till the end of time."
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