Jen's new man warns: Back off Brad!

Jennifer Aniston’s men are at war, with her new love Justin Theroux demanding an apology from her ex.

It should be one the happiest times of her life. After years of heartbreak and loneliness, Jennifer Aniston is in love with handsome new boyfriend Justin Theroux – and word is they’re preparing to start a family. Even if persistent pregnancy rumours sparked by her apparent baby bump prove untrue, close sources confirm the cohabiting couple have been trying for their first child.

However, more than five years after their devastating divorce rocked Hollywood, Brad Pitt has once again shocked the showbiz world by branding his time together with Jen, 42, as “pathetic”. In a hurtful and ill-timed bad-taste interview with US magazine Parade, Brad, 47, continued, “I was intent on trying to find a movie about an interesting life, but I wasn’t living an interesting life… My marriage had something to do with it – trying to pretend the marriage was something that it wasn’t.”

Needless to say, the actor’s insensitive comments cut deep. “Jen had a meltdown,” says a long-time friend of the actress, speaking exclusively to Woman’s Day. “She spent some of the best years of her life with Brad, and he totally dismisses it as boring and uninteresting! She couldn’t believe what he was saying.” “She was annoyed,” another pal tells. “She thought it was rude and inappropriate for him to say. Her agent and publicists went ballistic.” To make matters worse, at the same time, Jen’s 75-year-old mother Nancy Dow – with whom she had only recently reconciled after a long rift – was lying in hospital, fighting for her life after a serious stroke.

Too consumed with concern for her mum, the former Friends star opted to take the high road and tried to push the controversy to the back of her mind. But there was one person who was determined Brad would not get away with his hurtful comments – Jen’s new boyfriend. A furious Justin, 40, got in touch with Brad through a mutual acquaintance, an artist and independent filmmaker named Marc, passing on a strongly worded warning that he should apologise to Jen.