Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux are separating after two and a half years of marriage.
The couple said Thursday in a statement to The Associated Press released through a publicist that the decision to split 鈥渨as mutual and lovingly made at the end of last year.鈥�
The couple said they are making the announcement publicly 鈥渋n an effort to reduce any further speculation.鈥�
鈥淣ormally 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,鈥� they said in the statement released by Aniston鈥檚 longtime publicist, Stephen Huvane. 鈥淲hatever else is printed about us that is not directly from us, is someone else鈥檚 fictional narrative. Above all, we are determined to maintain the deep respect and love that we have for one another.鈥�
Aniston and Theroux were engaged in August of 2012 and married in August of 2015. They have no children.
The two worked together on 2012鈥檚 鈥淲anderlust,鈥� in which she starred.
They said they are 鈥渢wo best friends who have decided to part ways as a couple, but look forward to continuing our cherished friendship.鈥�
Theroux, 46, had a small role in 鈥淪tar Wars: The Last Jedi鈥� and has several films slated for release this year, including Netflix鈥檚 鈥淢ute鈥� out this month. His writing credits include 鈥淭ropic Thunder,鈥� 鈥滻ron Man 2鈥� and 鈥淶oolander 2.鈥�
Theroux said in an interview earlier this week that he and Aniston were not together on her Feb. 11 birthday, and he would not be spending Valentine鈥檚 Day with her.
Aniston, 49, is featured on the cover of the current issue of Architectural Digest with a story about the 鈥減ure domestic bliss鈥� of the Beverly Hills, California, home she shared with Theroux. Known as much for her style and stalwart acting career as she is for being a tabloid target, Aniston was previously married to Brad Pitt from 2000 to 2005.
Aniston denounced tabloid culture in a 2016 op-ed, saying she 鈥渉as worked too hard in this life and this career to be whittled down to a sad, childless human.鈥�
Aniston rose to fame on TV鈥檚 鈥淔riends鈥� and has appeared in such films as 鈥淗orrible Bosses,鈥� 鈥漁ffice Christmas Party,鈥� 鈥滳ake鈥� and 鈥淢arley & Me.鈥�
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Sandy Cohen, The Associated Press
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