Jennifer Aniston, Justin Theroux NOT In “Dog Custody Fight,” Despite Reports

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Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux are not in a “dog custody fight,” despite new reports. Gossip Cop can bust the claims, which we’ve learned are false. The estranged spouses are not at odds over pets.

The National Enquirer and its sister site RadarOnline published virtually identical stories on Wednesday alleging the couple’s divorce has “turned into a real dog fight.” Both articles claim the stars have “bared their fangs over the future of their four canines.” The outlets quote the same so-called “source” as saying, “The custody of the dogs is a massive sticking point in their divorce agreement.”

The publications maintain Aniston is “deeply attached to all of the family hounds,” which are said to include “Dolly, a white shepherd mix; Sophie, a pit bull mix; Clyde, a terrier; and a gray pit bull Theroux keeps in New York City.” Oddly, the name of the fourth pooch is not provided. Gossip Cop can’t help but wonder how knowledgeable the tabloid and the website are, and how credible its “source” is, if they couldn’t even find out the canine’s moniker.

The magazine and the blog go on to cite an “insider,” who contends, “Most of us believe Justin’s using the dogs as pawns, as some divorcing couples do with the kids, to squeeze more money out of their settlement.” Who exactly is “most of us”? What exactly is Theroux demanding in terms of custody and money? None of this pertinent information is provided. Instead, this alleged tipster merely assumes about Aniston, “There’s no way she’s going to let him get his hands on her money, or her mutts!”

Again, neither publication actually says what the purported issue is over the dogs. Is there a dispute over which dogs will live with which person? Is there an argument over the expense involved with caring for the dogs? Given that the outlets never explain what the problems are, and can’t even name one of the dogs, it seems apparent they just wanted to do a tale about Aniston and Theroux being at odds.

And while the National Enquirer and RadarOnline are hiding behind anonymous, untraceable “sources” and “insiders” who can’t even provide key info, Gossip Cop spoke with Theroux’s rep, who tells us on the record that there is no “dog fight” at all and such claims are “all false.” It’s also telling that the tabloid claimed (albeit wrongly) back in March that Aniston and Theroux’s divorce was getting “ugly,” yet made no mention of there being an issue over their pets until now.

Lastly, Gossip Cop must remind readers that when Aniston and Theroux announced they separated, they specifically warned fans about “fictional narratives” that would come from the gossip media, who “cannot resist an opportunity to speculate and invent.” This is a clear example of sister outlets inventing without any substantiation.