Jennifer Aniston has really stepped in it this time. The Friends star took aim at Monica Lewinsky during a recent interview, saying that the 48-year-old former White House intern became "famous for doing nothing" while criticizing the way social media has changed Hollywood. Monica has finally reacted, and not in the way you might think.
Monica became a household name in the 1990s.
She rose to infamy after it was revealed in 1998 that she had an affair with then President Bill Clinton. Everyone from late-night hosts to stand-up comedians had a field day at the then-24-year-old's expense.
These days, people look back at the way the media treated Monica the same way that they do the likes of Britney Spears — well, people other than Jennifer, that is.
Jennifer name-dropped Monica and others during a chat with fellow actor Sebastian Stan.
The 53-year-old was talking all things Hollywood with Sebastian for Variety when she brought Monica's name into the mix.
"This thing of people becoming famous for basically doing nothing but yet having these incredible careers. And then women's reputation … I mean — Paris Hilton, Monica Lewinsky, all those," she said while the two were talking about Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee's infamous leaked sex tape.
Jennifer went on to talk about how social media plays a major part in who gets a big break these days.
"I feel so lucky that we got a little taste of the industry before it became what it is today … more streaming services — you're famous from TikTok, you're famous from YouTube, you're famous from Instagram," she said. "It's almost like it's diluting the actor's job."
The Horrible Bosses star, who is the daughter of famous actors Nancy Dow and John Aniston, caught a lot of backlash online for her hot take, which some considered hypocritical considering her parents gave her a leg up in Hollywood.
Jennifer's off-the-cuff comments became the subject of a thread on Twitter.
Without naming names, author and activist Ernest Sewell chided women who "preach empowerment" in one breath and then "demean another women's past" in another. "Even Beyoncé, Ms. Female-in-Power (who I do love and enjoy) used Ms. Lewinsky's name in a song about, well, something," Ernest wrote in reference to the sex act Monica had become famous for.
And Ernest isn't the only one who's spoken out. Plenty of other people have taken offense to Jennifer's comments, both for her apparent lack of self-awareness and that she appeared to be gatekeeping.
Monica may be getting the last laugh, though.
Ever the class act, Monica opted to let her lack of a response be her response. Instead, she simply liked Ernest's tweet, sending a quiet message about how she really feels.
Since her scandalous relationship with Clinton, Monica has made a career out of standing up for those who are bullied and unfairly targeted by others. Hopefully Jennifer takes a minute to reflect on how her comments could be hurtful, not only to Monica and Paris but also to others she seemed to put down while chatting with Sebastian.
