Let’s face it—Jennifer Aniston is one of those rare Hollywood gems who has managed to keep her star shining brightly since her breakout role as Rachel Green on "Friends" back in 1994. For a full decade, Jen captivated audiences with her wit, charm, and undeniable on-screen chemistry with co-star David Schwimmer, who played her love interest, Ross Geller. But here's the question everyone’s been wondering about for years: Did their off-screen relationship ever match the sizzling connection we saw on TV? Spoiler alert—it's not exactly what you might think.
Over the years, there have been countless rumors swirling around whether Jen and David's on-screen relationship spilled into real life. And while fans were left guessing, the truth finally came out during the highly anticipated HBO Max "Friends" reunion in May 2021. Spoiler alert again: No, they didn’t date, but let me tell you, it was close!
During the reunion, David opened up about how he had a serious crush on Jennifer during the early days of "Friends." "The first season, we—I had a major crush on Jen," David confessed. And guess what? Jennifer didn’t exactly shy away from the admission. In fact, she doubled down, saying, "It was reciprocated." Can you say "awkwardly adorable"?
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Why Didn’t They Act on Their Feelings?
So why didn’t these two Hollywood heavyweights turn their mutual attraction into something more? Well, timing—or lack thereof—played a big role. At the beginning of her "Friends" fame, Jennifer met none other than Brad Pitt, Hollywood's golden boy at the time. They reconnected in 1998 and were engaged by 1999. Their fairytale wedding took place in Malibu in 2000, and Brad even made a guest appearance on "Friends" in 2001, playing a character who hilariously didn’t like Rachel. The couple eventually parted ways in January 2005, but by then, the ship had sailed for Jennifer and David.
David himself admitted during the reunion, "At some point, we were both crushing hard on each other." However, he added, "It was like two ships passing because one of us was always in a relationship. And we never crossed that boundary. We respected that." Respect is key, folks.
David’s Romantic Life During "Friends"
While Jennifer was navigating her own romantic landscape, David was doing the same. In the ‘90s, he briefly dated singer Natalie Imbruglia while filming "Friends." Then, in 1998, he met actress Mili Avital on the set of "Kissing a Fool." He proposed to her in 2001, but the relationship ended later that year. During seasons 8 and 9 of "Friends," David dated actress Carla Alapont from "Coyote Ugly," but they split in November 2003.
Life After "Friends"
When "Friends" wrapped in 2004, the cast went their separate ways, pursuing careers outside of their iconic sitcom roles. David married Zoë Buckman in 2010, and they welcomed their daughter, Cleo, a year later. Jennifer tied the knot with actor Justin Theroux in 2015, though the couple never had children. Unfortunately, both Jennifer and David’s marriages ended in divorce.
Are They Still Close?
Jennifer once admitted in a 2011 interview with "Myself Magazine" that she hadn’t seen David in a while, but their shared experience on "Friends" made them "bonded forever." Over the years, several cast members have reunited at public appearances, including a 2016 NBC special honoring "Friends" director James Burrows. All six cast members also gathered for dinner at Courteney Cox’s house in 2019, sparking speculation about a potential reunion.
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Despite the rumors, Jennifer maintained during the 2021 reunion that her relationship with David is strictly platonic. "That was bizarre. I could not believe that, actually. Like, really? That’s my brother," Jennifer told ET in September 2021, addressing the speculation. "But I understand it, though. It just shows you how hopeful people are for fantasies, for dreams to come true."
What About Ross and Rachel?
Of course, Ross and Rachel got their happily-ever-after in season 10 when they realized they were in love with each other all along. But Jennifer revealed in an interview with Howard Stern that she and David only channeled their feelings into their characters, which might explain why their on-screen chemistry was so electric. "The beauty of that was that whatever feelings we had we just literally channeled everything into Ross and Rachel and I think that’s maybe why it resonated the way it did," Jennifer said. "But no, we never – on my life, and Courteney and Lisa would know and can vouch for me."
