This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Fairfield chapter.

The split of Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux makes it that much harder to have hope that love is even a real freaking thing.

Aniston and Theroux have officially announced their split to the public, which evidently occurred at the end of 2017. Another reason to add to the list of why 2017 really was the absolute worst.

The couple married in August of 2015, but had been together since 2008 when they met on the set of the movie, Tropic Thunder. After spending nearly ten years together, they were one of our favorite couples. One could most certainly call them ~goals~, or so we thought. It seemed that they were doing well at the end of last year around New Year’s Eve, when Aniston talked to Architectural Digest about how happy she was in her home with her husband, and of course their dogs… but little did we know!

The couple made their break up more than just an ugly rumor when they released a statement to the Associated Press. Their statement said, “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… Above all, we are determined to maintain the deep respect and love we have a for one another.”

As much as we would love for them to remain ~besties~, it’s honestly impractical. Zero out of ten times break ups result in continuing friendships. If for some bizarre reason they manage to salvage a friendship, it’s because there is more to it than just friendship (if you know what I mean).

Their newly established friend-zone relationship doesn’t seem to be going well. Theroux unfortunately did not make an appearance at Aniston’s birthday party. If they had a “cherished friendship” and they really were “best friends”, he might show up for her birthday. It’s really hard to come back from missing a birthday too, so good luck to Justin if he really wants to be friends.

Although the couple went public in an attempt to keep rumors from swirling and make sure the truth got out on their own terms, rumors continue to spread since we just love gossip.

Let’s dive into some of the juicy rumors as to why the couple really broke up:

BRAD PITT- We were all thinking it. We all know that Brangelina broke up back in 2016, and that true love never dies. We loved them as couple once, but would we love them again?
DISTANCE – Evidently the couple spent a lot of time apart and eventually just decided to spend all of their time apart because that was simply easier. So much for absence makes the heart grow fonder!
THE FAME – Justin wasn’t a big fan of being constantly in the spotlight, but good luck getting away from it when you’re married to Rachel Green. A source told E! News that he tried to ignore it out of love for her, but it just wasn’t him and it became too much to handle.

In conclusion, we still have no freaking idea why they broke up. All that’s known is that they did and the American people are somewhat devastated. Only time will tell what really happened, and mend a broken heart if there is one. The only thing we know for sure is that they are not on a break and that it is really officially over.

Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux Have Officially Split

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