The New York Post isn't known for shying away from controversial or graphic headlines and cover images, and their take on Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's divorce is no different. The September 22 cover, one day after news of the divorce broke, featured a large image of Jennifer Aniston's face with the text "BRANGELINA 2004-2016."
The image on the cover is of Aniston at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in 2011.
—New York Post (@nypost) September 21, 2016
As noted by Refinery29, some people believed this to be a "classless" move on the Post's part. The responses on Twitter alone were heated and immediate.
—Rehan Choudhry (@rehanc) September 21, 2016
—Gregory G. Allen (@GregoryGAllen) September 21, 2016
—lauren✨ (@laurrrx91) September 21, 2016
—Terrence Moss-Malek (@the79show) September 21, 2016
—MH (@totsiesdaughter) September 21, 2016
The "delete" memes and gifs started right away, too.
—alex (@UYYOALIGHTBEAM) September 21, 2016
—cole baby ♑️ (@lindseycole_) September 21, 2016
People have been tying Jennifer Aniston into this public divorce since the moment it was announced. Upon hearing of the Brangelina split, many people began sharing images and gifs of Aniston, all with the same message of glee and "karmic destiny."
—Amy (@ohsoamy) September 20, 2016
—Andy Herren (@AndyHerren) September 20, 2016
—erin chack (@ErinChack) September 20, 2016
Some people believe dragging Aniston into the fight is sexist.
"I'd like to think it no longer makes much sense for the media to pit women against each other in this tired, sexist way any more," wrote Guardian reporter Arwa Mahdawi.
Aniston wasn't the only women brought into the discussion for potentially misogynist reasons. Pitt's co-star in an upcoming movie, Marion Cotillard, was rumored to have engaged in an affair with him.
"The sexist trope of blaming women for a man's infidelity is trotted out every other week to sell tabloids, allowing men to get off the hook while their wives and mistresses are burned at the stake for their dirty deeds," Salon's Nico Lang wrote in response to the rumor.
The Post's article focusing on Aniston cites "close" "pals" who claim the actress knew it was "just a matter of time" before Jolie and Pitt divorced, and UsWeekly was reportedly told by a source close to Aniston that she said "Yeah, that's karma for you!" while discussing the news with a friend.
Aniston has made no statement to the public.
