Y’all know that I’m not a Jennifer Aniston superfan or anything, but this particular controversy has me defending Jen. So, this Christmas, many people decided to make some kind of reference to the pandemic or the vaccine in their Christmas decorations. For the most part – from what I saw – that meant that many people chose a couple of Christmas tree ornaments with some kind of reference to how 2020 was awful. I saw one tree decorated with a little vaccine vial, and some decorated with masked Santas, or a little syringe ornament, you get the idea. There were references to the pandemic on Christmas trees across the country, probably around the world too. So this is the ornament Jennifer Aniston had on her Christmas tree:
A wood ornament with a “our first pandemic 2020” etched into the wood. I mean… it’s not great! I’m not defending it as the best pandemic Christmas ornament ever. But I don’t really get the backlash for it? If anything, I’m weirded out that the ornament specifies that it’s our “first” pandemic, like she thinks she’ll survive many more pandemics. So, yeah, it’s not what I would have chosen, but it’s not like she’s f–king celebrating a deadly pandemic. Jennifer has been pretty unproblematic in her messaging this year – she’s encouraged all of her fans to wear masks and social-distance and she’s been supporting local businesses and small businesses. As far as I know, she cancelled her very popular Christmas party too. She’s not celebrating the virus, she’s celebrating surviving the pandemic. Ugh.
If you’re upset about Jennifer Aniston’s ornament Instagram story – let’s not forget how she plugged small businesses to try to help them in a hard time, and urges people to wear masks in pretty much every post she makes…. #jenniferaniston pic.twitter.com/sZJMC8ACJ8
— anna (jennifer aniston fan) (@fanistonlife) December 26, 2020
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
I think it’s a play off of “Our First Christmas” which couples often do. I had one, once upon a time. I don’t see the problem with it, people are always looking for something though. I mean, feed a hungry child today and zip it. Just try it for a day. Then try shutting up tomorrow too. I say this as someone who is a total blabbermouth, so I know it’s the pot calling the kettle etc etc.
I seems celebratory as it was a great thing. It’s the vocabulary that’s problematic.
It’s tongue-in-cheek, very obviously so.
How on earth is it problematic?
Silly? Sure. Ridiculous? Eh. Upsetting? Only if you’re attaching far more value to it than it’s worth.
And likely, yes, there will be more pandemics. If human nature has taught us any lessons…
Drea, you are spot on. I was reading a couple of articles recently (can’t remember, WaPo? WSJ? Atlantic?? read so many lately!). Some epidemiologists were interviewed, and were saying that there ARE going to be more and more viruses like this; the more we encroach on nature, and take away habitats, the more animals are going to be “encroaching” in OUR “habitat”, and the more often we are going to see cross-overs of viruses.
As if we needed ANOTHER reason to get our act together and combat climate change AND deforestation of our wild areas (like the Amazon etc).
@the OG Yes; there are going to be more pandemics like this in our lifetimes. I know everyone wants to just go back to normal life before this year but it’s just not going to. Masks are not just magically going away and we will be wearing them a long while just for this pandemic. Source: my partner is a surgeon/biologist/geneticist. Epidemiologists have always known this could/would happen and governments chose not to take it seriously, hence the position we are in right now.
Yup, there are definitely more important issues to bitch about at the moment. Priorities, people!
Complaining about 1 issue doesn’t mean we can’t complain about others. We can multitask!
I’m indifferent to Aniston. And I think it’s in poor taste to have an ornament like that while people are suffering and grieving, but I was a 1st responder (nurse) and this pandemic drove me to my breaking point. So, I’m biased. I’m not at the point that can joke about this yet. And the privileged are largely untouched by the grief this pandemic brings so it’s probably easier to enjoy it as a joke so removed from the hardships.
@wiglet— I totally agree with you, I have some first responders in my life, and it makes things much more real and sobering for me. And yes, there are many people who continue to remain untouched by the pandemic, not having any first-hand experience with it. So it is easy for some people to joke about it all. Thanks for all you do 🙂
It’s the hell that is social media. A license to vent your spleen, whether justified or not.
I don’t see a problem. It’s fine and she is fine! Basic, yes… but I am too! Lol I actually follow her on Instagram and find her relatable. I think that whole Brad Pitt mess is truly behind her. Just let her continue to shill her hair and beauty products… she is harmless!
I bought some similar ornaments, attached to a wine bottle and gave out to friends for the holidays. I have one on my tree and kept one for each of my kids – 2020 the year where everything went crazy. I am not making light of COVID. I know two people who died of it, several who were hospitalized and about a half dozen who are, as I write, home sick in bed with fevers. I get the optics could be bad, depending on who is interpreting them, but I give Jenn a pass.
It’s not what I’d put in my tree
Yeah it’s definitely making a play on “our first Christmas” ornaments, and it’s meant to be kind of a joke. I don’t get the backlash. My husband and I have said similar things to each other “hey babe we survived our first pandemic!” No one “wants” another pandemic so it’s not about that. It’s just a little joke.
This whole thing is so silly! People, we got more important things to get upset about than a friggin ornament! Jeez!
Yeah, I’m not going to get mad over this either. This is right in line with my sense of humor, plus my sister got me an ornament with a plague doctor image above 2020! I laughed, if you don’t laugh you have to cry.
Side note, it may well be our ‘first’ pandemic, unfortunately. I read several articles indicating that rising global temperatures and extreme weather patterns are contributing to disease spread across the globe too. Merry Christmas! 😷
Not to mention the ancient diseases and organisms trapped in the melting polar ice caps that will soon be re-wreaking havoc on us due to our own avarice and willing ignorance.
It doesn’t really matter, I know loads of people with a dark humour who’ve had things like this this year. I can however see how people may not want to see this from a very wealthy privileged individual who is not experiencing the pandemic like the majority.
Definitively more pressing issues than JA being slightly tone death
It is not the message but the messenger. Uber wealthy woman is surviving the pandemic but livelihood has not changed as a result.
But like Kaiser mentioned, she has been unproblematic in her pandemic messaging so this was the time that people who were just waiting to attack her on something, anything came and it just shows that some people get off on being miserable on other people’s accounts.
I agree that the problem is that, like every other super wealthy celeb, she was never in any real danger from the pandemic in terms of her wealth or health, so trying to be relatable just isn’t resonating with folks right now. She’s suffering a bit from the bad behavior of other celebs. But I also think really failed to read the room here. So many people are suffering terribly, and it’s obnoxious when celebs try to pretend that they are in that same boat. I can see why people think she’s making light.
“like every other super wealthy celeb, she was never in any real danger from the pandemic in terms of her wealth or health”
eh, not completely true. We’ve seen a LOT of celebs put news out that they contracted COVID, and even folks like Alyssa Milano who is still suffering effects (like hair loss) months later. Aniston was wealthy enough to isolate herself in her mansion and have food delivered. if she’s managed to not contract it, it’s because A) she’s got the wealth AND B) SHE TOOK APPROPRIATE MEASURES like wearing a mask and not socializing. wealth alone does not make people safe. SAFER, to be sure, but I’ll give her credit for doing what ALL of us were supposed to be doing. it’s just easier when you have money.
I’d say Tom Hanks and his wife are super wealthy. And they were among the very first celebs to make public their infection, quarantining, and recovery. So no. Can it make it *easier*? Sure! You can get deliveries and don’t ever have to leave your huge home; the grounds are most likely large enough to not get cabin fever like most others (Hell, I’m in a very nice 2 bdrm condo, and I am ENVIOUS of those in homes w/backyards they can get out into, w/out going full hazmat. But it is what it is). I think most of us are trying to get through this, with ourselves and our families safe and healthy.
@whatwhat I mean – Milano was a shill for that hair company where plenty of women ended up with extreme hair loss from the products. I’d question what kind of hair care she’s using in addition to the diagnosis.
By “real danger” I meant dying. The wealthy and famous are not the ones dying here, with some extremely rare exceptions. And the Hanks got the virus very early on (and got great treatment), so they’re a little different. But The fact is that there is a multi-tiered medical system here, and the famous get by far the best treatment making it a heck of a lot easier for them to take more risks and be more casual. I think she did a nice job being one of the few celebs that bothered with decent messaging about taking precautions. But I also think this was a bone-headed move. Certainly not worth the reaction it got, but still less than thoughtful.
I’m sure her livelihood was affected too. No one was shooting anything. Just because she can afford to weather the change doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
This is THE stupidest controversy. Everyone has their own sense of humor, let it be.
I think this is a blown up controversy. Most people are like ….meh…..it’s fine
Exactly. It might just be what’s on my Twitter feed, but I saw like 800 tweets defending her and none at all attacking her. At most they were like “Oooh Jen watch out they’re gonna come for you” but no one actually coming for her.
I cross-stitched two ornaments for family… one with this phrase and one with a dumpster fire. I bought the patterns off of etsy and hopefully helped a couple of small businesses out. I wanted to buy some 2020 specific ornaments, but the factory burned down in true fashion for this year so I made my own. Is it dark? Yup. Is it playing off of Baby’s First Christmas and Married Couples first Christmas ornaments? Yup. Did they make my family laugh? Yup. Let people have their harmless joy where they can
To say that because she is wealthy and therefore was not affected by the pandemic isn’t necessarily accurate. My husband and I are not wealthy, but he works in chemicals-and he never missed a day of work, and because his company makes hand sanitizer, they had a successful year. However, I struggled with being isolated at home with 2 toddlers, no social outlet (even as an introvert, I felt isolated!) and suffering from existing ppd. Mental health took a hit for a lot of us this year. I have seen a ton of these ornaments-mainly on Etsy, so she’s hardly the only “out of touch” person. I’m probably going to get myself a 2020 ornament as well for my tree. Because, my family is surviving a pandemic.
The wording is odd to me, is Aniston seeing an LA crystal-ball seer who told her this won’t be her last pandemic? For someone who desperately controls her good-girl, wholesome and homely image, this feels like a mis-step for her. I don’t mind dark humor but I can understand how some of her fans would expect more sugary sentiments from her.
I’ve read several articles from scientists and doctors who are saying this likely won’t be the last pandemic we see.
Of course it won’t be our last pandemic. Humans never learn, so the same f*cking behavior and the same f*cking mistakes will happen again and again.
a lot of infectious disease docs have been predicting a pandemic like this for years and, as noted by curachel20, the same docs have been saying this is very likely NOT going to be our first and only.
also, I don’t think it’s her fans who are put off by this or expecting sugary sentiments from her. I think it’s people who already don’t like her and look for any reason to put her down. she advocates for wearing masks. she supports small business who are struggling. she got an ornament to mark this year, like a LOT of folks did. I’ve seen ornaments that are a model of the virus, a syringe, masked Santas, masked Jesus and/or Nativity players, plague doctors…as ornaments “commemorating” the virus go, this one is pretty innocuous.
that being said, I could absolutely see how a first-line medical person would not want to “commemorate” this pandemic like so many are and wouldn’t like this.
Homely image? What?
“The wording is odd to me, is Aniston seeing an LA crystal-ball seer who told her this won’t be her last pandemic?”
It’s a play on “our first Christmas”.
A couple of people on social media don’t like it, and somehow it’s a huge controversy? Eh.
Not my kind of thing, but that sort of stuff is for sale EVERYWHERE, people trying to find some humor in a dark time.
If she were an anti-masker out there flaunting the guidelines, it’d be different, but she’s not.
Seriously! I thought it was funny
I thought it was funny too.
I like dark humor. I just don’t find this funny I guess. It’s like Chuck Lorre level humor. I’ve seen people posting their dumb covid ornaments on Facebook and it’s just … I don’t know. I think it’s lame – and a lot of the people that I’ve personally seen posting them are the kind of people who would lose their ever loving shit if someone poked fun at something negative that happened to them.
If I saw one that was actually funny maybe I’d change my mind? But they’re basically all just “hur dur toilet paper hur dur pandemic” – nothing particularly witty or clever.
I bought a bunch of “dumpster fire 2020” ornaments because every year when I decorate my tree I want to remember this year and be grateful it’s in the past. Yes, it’s a joke, but in no way makes light of suffering, in my mind.
Just FYI, I’ll always remember this year as the Randy Rainbow Christmas tree year, also. If you follow his IG you saw his fab fiber optic rainbow tree…I hunted it down and bought one for myself. I don’t even want to take it down, it’s so mesmerizingly awesome. HNY!
I see nothing wrong with the ornament. I use dark humor in order to cope with difficult times in my life.
Currently, one of the “holiday” decorations in my house is a pandemic tree. It is a 3 foot artificial tree with toilet paper for garland, an angel on two made of 2 disposable masks, wine corks and tiny paper masks hanging from the tree along with homemade crocheted coronaviruses.
It is perfect for the hell year we have all had.
If I could enclose a picture of it I would.
I LOVE that tree idea! 😂
It’s going to stay up through the summer. I really wish I could share a picture but this plat form won’t let me paste the picture.
This is hilarious and I’m sad we can’t see the tree!!
Outrage!1!1!11
Seriously, this is ridiculous. Let’s get back to Hilaria
She was not impacted by this pandemic, so her perspective is one dimensional.
And doesn’t want to expand it, so let the rich lady in Beverly Hills spend her Xmas fittingly.
Save your rage and learn not to support ppl you don’t like monetarily. Is simple.
As much as i can’t stand Jennifer Aniston, I don’t think this is as bad as people are making it. People who have lost loved ones, their jobs, and are struggling, have a lot more on their minds than a dumb ornament. Celebs are tone deaf because they live in a different world to the rest of us, no matter how much they pretend not to be.
Oh, for the love of god. Total non-issue.
I know multiple people with COVID right now in hospital, 2 were like grandparents to me, and this never even crossed my mind as something to take offense over. She’s just trying to lighten the air of a god awful situation a little.
I thought it was kinda funny Jennifer Aniston was into sappy year-themed custom ornaments like this though, it’s so very ordinary. I would have assumed her tree baubles were designed by Givenchy or something.
Yep. This is something anyone could buy on Etsy, which means it’s the opposite of “mansion on the hill” or whatever. I saw tons of similar ornaments at a small shop near my apartment. They’re not my style, but based off my neighborhood instagram friends, a lot of people of varying socioeconomic status bought one or two.
People are really overreacting to that ornament. I’ve gotten Xmas cards that reference the pandemics and how awful and weird this year has been. I think with us being stuck at home and cases still rising, people take everything a little too hard and don’t always have perspective.
This is a complete non issue.
People’s desire to be outraged on the internet over shit really reaches ridiculous heights at times.
It didn’t help when she posted about a week ago a picture of her and her hairdresser inches apart, not wearing masks. Chris was right behind her and a tress of her hair was draped around his upper lip to look like a mush stash. She doesn’t seem to have a problem telling people to “wear the damn mask people”, and then do the complete opposite. I know I’m in the minority, but I find that ornament about as light hearted as a 911 ornament. She’s tone deaf.
It’s not a huge deal. But She has been sticking her foot in her mouth as of late, so this doesn’t surprise me. Trying to do something she’s not good at. She wants to be a social media influencer now, so she has to take the draggings with the praises imho.
Being her skin is thin, her PR rep sent out the boys to try and clean it up. It was funny tho because she is usually Teflon but that azz got spanked. Lol
Personally I find it in poor taste. Not sure if and when I might be able to laugh about it.
It’s … a joke. Just because she isn’t dead doesn’t mean she doesn’t have family or friends directly impacted by COVID, so I doubt she’s making light of the pandemic. I think it’s just a humorous way of coping, like, “look at this absurdity surrounding us.”
Literally almost every vendor is selling ornaments like this. I bought one, so did probably 90% of the people I know. It’s dark
humor as a way to deal with all of the shiftiness that came with this year.