The strange tale of Jennifer Aniston's most controversial rom-com
During the golden age of romantic comedies, Jennifer Aniston signed on to one of the most unusual films of her career. Rumour Has It, now streaming on Tubi, has left audiences baffled for nearly two decades with its unsettling premise.
What is Rumour Has It about?
The film follows Sarah, a New York journalist who returns to her family's California home for her sister's wedding. But the plot takes a decidedly odd turn when she hears a rumour that the classic film The Graduate was based on her family's true story.
The implication: Sarah's mother and grandmother, played by Shirley MacLaine, both had a relationship with the same man. Sarah then discovers that this man, portrayed by Kevin Costner, might be her biological father. After confirming he is not, she sleeps with him anyway, despite being engaged to another man.
Viewers have been vocal about their discomfort. One fan posted:
“The fact that the main character sleeps with a man whom she had just an hour ago thought was her father is so weird. It felt like incest, even though it technically wasn't.”
Why did Aniston make this film?
Aniston herself described the movie as “fun and light” during press for its December 2005 release. But the timing suggests deeper motivations. That year marked one of the most turbulent periods of her personal life.
In January 2005, her marriage to Brad Pitt ended amid his relationship with Angelina Jolie, which began while filming Mr and Mrs Smith. Aniston filed for divorce in March 2005, with the proceedings finalised just before the film's release.
She later told Vanity Fair:
“Am I lonely? Yes. Am I upset? Yes. Am I confused? Yes. Do I have my days when I've thrown a little pity party for myself? Absolutely. But I'm also doing really well. I'm a tough cookie.”
The paparazzi pressure
The divorce intensified tabloid scrutiny at a time when paparazzi tactics were particularly aggressive toward female celebrities. Days before the Rumour Has It premiere, Aniston was photographed topless in her backyard by a photographer using a long lens from nearly 300 metres away.
She described the photographers during promotional interviews as “horrendous and just so reckless”, noting they would “drive on sidewalks and cut through intersections” to get shots.
Life after Friends
The film also came amid the aftermath of Friends, which ended in 2004 after a decade on air. Aniston called the transition “really painful”, describing the cast as “a family” and the loss of that daily routine as difficult.
In a strange twist, Rumour Has It was shot on a sound stage adjacent to where the sitcom had been filmed. Aniston recalled:
“When August rolled around and normally, I was ready to go back to Friends, I sat there for about a day and went, well, this is awkward.”
Aniston's perspective years later
Aniston has maintained her sense of humour about the film. Accepting an award years later, she joked:
“I've noticed a strange parallel between the movies I'm doing and my life off-screen. It started with The Good Girl, then of course Rumour Has It, followed by Derailed. Then there was The Break Up. If any of you have a project entitled Everlasting Love with a Stable Adult Male, I'm at table 6!”
While Rumour Has It remains a curiosity in Aniston's filmography, it stands as a snapshot of a challenging period in her life, when personal turmoil collided with professional choices that continue to puzzle audiences today.
Why does Rumour Has It remain so talked about?
The film's uncomfortable premise and its connection to Aniston's real-life circumstances have kept it in public conversation. For Australian viewers interested in Hollywood history, it offers an unusual window into mid-2000s celebrity culture and the pressures facing women in the entertainment industry.
Photo: News.com.au