Jennifer Aniston: 'Women without kids aren't damaged goods'

2 August 2018, 13:24 | Updated: 2 August 2018, 14:35

The 49-year-old actress has implied that not starting a family was due to medical issues - and anyone who thinks otherwise is making "reckless assumptions".

Jennifer Aniston has denied that she is "heartbroken" after splitting from her second husband Justin Theroux.

The actress, who was famed for her role as Rachel Green in Friends, opened up about her personal struggles in a candid interview with Jimmy Kimmel's wife, Molly McNearney, in the latest issue of InStyle magazine.

In the wide ranging interview, she also touched upon reports that she had never wanted to start a family. 

She said: "Those are reckless assumptions. No one knows what's going on behind closed doors. 

"No one considers how sensitive that might be for my partner and me. They don't know what I've been through medically or emotionally." 

Read more: Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt could get back together says expert 

 

Jennifer Aniston has dealt with the tabloids for her entire career, but lately it seems relentless. “The misconceptions are ‘Jen can’t keep a man,’ and ‘Jen refuses to have a baby because she’s selfish and committed to her career.’ Or that I’m sad and heartbroken,” she tells dear friend @MMcNearney in our September cover story. “First, with all due respect, I’m not heartbroken. And second, those are reckless assumptions. No one knows what’s going on behind closed doors. No one considers how sensitive that might be for my partner and me. They don’t know what I’ve been through medically or emotionally. There is a pressure on women to be mothers, and if they’re not, then they’re deemed damaged goods. Maybe my purpose on this planet isn’t to procreate. Maybe I have other things I’m supposed to do.” | Photographed by @BenHassett; Styled by @JuliaVonBoehm

A post shared by instylemagazine (@instylemagazine) onAug 1, 2018 at 5:15am PDT

She continued: "There is a pressure on women to be mothers, and if they are not, then they're deemed damaged goods. 

"Maybe my purpose on this planet isn't to procreate. Maybe I have other things I'm supposed to do?"

Jennifer and her ex-husband Justin Theroux, 46, announced they were splitting after three years of marriage back in February. 

The couple released a statement which read: "In an effort to reduce any further speculation, we have decided to announce our separation.

"This decision was mutual and lovingly made at the end of last year. We are two best friends who have decided to part ways as a couple, but look forward to continuing our cherished friendship. 

"Normally we would do this privately, but given that the gossip industry cannot resist an opportunity to speculate and invent, we wanted to convey the truth directly."