“Having [director Mimi Leder] there, you’re protected,” Aniston said. “I never felt uncomfortable. Jon was such a gentlemen, always – I mean every move, every cut, ‘You OK?’ It was also very choreographed. That’s the beauty of Mimi and our gorgeous editor, the music and lighting. So, you don’t prepare.
“They asked us if we wanted an intimacy coordinator. I’m from the olden days, so I was like, ‘What does that mean?’ They said, ‘Where someone asks you if you’re OK.’ and I’m like, ‘Please, this is awkward enough!’ We’re seasoned – we can figure this one out. And we had Mimi there.”
Following the comments, some have criticised Aniston’s response as being “dismissive” of the benefits intimacy coordinators can have on set for some performers.
“I don’t understand this obsession some actors have with dunking on intimacy coordinators,” one user on X wrote. “You can say you and your scene partner mutually agreed you were happy without one without dismissing the important role they play to keep people (especially younger performers) safe.”
Another added: “Jennifer Aniston may or may not be in a position where she doesn’t *need* an intimacy coordinator, but this dismissive response to the concept is undeniably harmful to others who are not in her position and would greatly benefit from widespread adoption of intimacy coordination.”
“There were things that were never intentional and others… well, we should have thought it through, but I don’t think there was a sensitivity like there is now,” Aniston said.
“Comedy has evolved, movies have evolved. Now it’s a little tricky because you have to be very careful, which makes it really hard for comedians, because the beauty of comedy is that we make fun of ourselves, make fun of life.”
She added: “You could joke about a bigot and have a laugh. That was hysterical. And it was about educating people on how ridiculous people were, and now we’re not allowed to do that.”