Brad & Jen, The Tabloids Permanently Star Cross'd Lovers

By Ben Widdicombe Posted Apr 30th 2010 08:00PM

Five years after her divorce from Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston still cannot shake the celebrity weekly's conviction that the former couple are still involved in every aspect of each others' lives. This week's story is that Brad called her "pathetic" because she posed for the cover of Architectural Digest, a magazine he has previously graced about a subject that is his interest, not hers.

Us Weekly tells us that Brad feels the maneuver was "desperate" because she "wants to get his attention." Needless to say, the anecdote is attributed to an anonymous source.

The reality of the Brad-Jen situation, of course, is that they never see each other. But stories like this are the result of expensive focus testing conducted by the magazines, which reveals that readers are only moderately interested in the lives of a couple like Pitt and Angelina Jolie -- unless Aniston is involved to make it a tragic love triangle. With the addition of Aniston, reader interest and sales spike considerably.

Aniston and Britney Spears are the first ladies of tabloid sales. The magazines feel we already have strong impressions about what these women's lives are like (Jen is lonely and miserable; Britney is nuts), and they create stories that reinforce that narrative.

Similarly, you will never see a tabloid cover story that Katie Holmes is blissfully happy with Tom Cruise, because editors believe readers think she is "trapped" and that Tom is "controlling." That is the version that sells magazines.

These pre-written stories present a problem in the case of Brad and Jen, given that they have no actual contact. Editors are forced to get inventive about how they might be involved in each others' lives.

Possibly the most egregious example of this practice took place last October, when Brad was involved in a minor motorcycle accident in Los Angeles. He fell off his bike, left the scene on foot and the bike was picked up by a truck.

From these simple events, In Touch magazine produced a cover story that he was "Running back to Jen" when he had the accident. Fate, in the form of L.A. traffic, had cruelly intervened to keep them apart.

As long as either of these people is alive, it seems, a large chunk of the media will be devoted to telling us that they think about each other every waking moment.

Tags: brad pitt, jennifer aniston

Comments

(29)

Friday 30 April

By michele

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LMFAO!! How much did Huvane pay you for this entry? Poor put upon anuston.

By jenny

It`s called having no life if the tabloids think we really care about Jen and Brad.Leave them alone.Jen has been through several relationships since Brad dumped her.

By Dave

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I like the way Brad is dressed, and the beard too.
I didn't know that the taliban look was in style this season.

Thursday 20 May

By xxo

Jen needs to shoulder the responsibilty for 5 years she has mentions something about Brad/Angie/or the children in Vogue magazine on Oprah and People. Yes the tabloids make stuff up but she gives them plenty of ammo

By mary

i like to read about brad and jennifer, but as far as brittany NOBODY CARES. LOL,especially after her famous beaver shot.EWWWWW

By cat

Great article!
Yes - these rags are motivated by what sells, and they stick with the formula that works.

However, you say "As long as either of these people is alive, it seems, a large chunk of the media will be devoted to telling us that they think about each other every waking moment."

I disagree. I think public opinion would change if there were a scenario that had Jen and Brad both single for a period of time...or even Brad seeing someone else. The public would finally "get" that the reason they're not together is other than Angelina.

By Aztroids

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I don't believe for a second Brad would say something like this.

Tuesday 28 September

By morgan

I agree with you,Brad would never say that about Jen!
maybe aj said it,that i believe!

By lll

what if (gasp of all gasps) Brad and Angie stay together? does that mean Jen will always be brought up...just as Jen as a victim sells so does Angie as an evil b*** bad mother and both stereotypes are so sexist and unfair ...

Saturday 01 May

By dolores

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but soo true, jen was a victim of brad horndog and jolie skankho...may they always be together and pay the price for what they did,no one can build happiness on someone else's hurt, that is why they live the way they do...skanki having baby after baby thinking to tie horndog to her forever.

By rcars1

Just look at Jen. She gets more beautiful as she ages. As for Brad, he looks as if he is in 60's. tobad he thinks he's cool looking...........wrong!!!

By jrock8

Brad only looks like that because he is getting ready for his next film where he is plays the role of Wakeen Phoenix.

By Kate

Brad is all used up.Jen is still looking good.What the hell would she want that old drunk for.Him and angie can drink all the viles of blood they like.They both look like hell.

By Ashley

Ughhh I have never been a fan of Jennifer Aniston. I give her snaps, she does have a killer body though. Who cares about the whole Brad & Jenn fiasco, if there really is one. I actually hope theres nothing goin on between the two because Brad needs to stick to helping Angelina raise the herd of children they have. Hopefully, the Brad + Jenn thing is like a lot of stuff in Hollywood, RUMORS.

By linda

they have nannies to raise the kids

By Guy

Brad will stay will Ange because she tolerates or doesn't care about the Bromance between Brad and George Clooney. I don't follow them or read the tabloids but they are always together and if not, then talking about the other.

By carolj

Listen its as old as time ...the public still remembers that elizabeth taylor stole eddie fisher from america's sweetheart debbie reynolds back in the 50's ...its scandal ....as much as i love all 3 as actors it was rotten what angie did...scandal & its sells

By joan

Aniston is needy and needs to grow up. Brad moved on, apparently she cannot. Sad and as Brad said, "pathetic".

By rose

Looks to me like angie is the one that is suicidal needy and clingy

By Susan

Jen is gorgeous, spunky, and alive. Brad looks like an old man. What does that tell you about how each individual is doing?

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