The Truth About Adam Sandler And Jennifer Aniston's Relationship

When it comes to unexpected comedy duos, Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler top the list. The two Hollywood stars have a surprisingly close friendship, and have known each other a lot longer than you may realize. In fact, while accepting a trophy at the SAG Awards 2020, Aniston gave a sweet shout-out to her former costar, saying, "Oh, Adam Sandler, your performance is extraordinary, and your magic is real, buddy. I love you." Sandler paid the compliment right back and wrote in response on Instagram, "Congrats to the great @jenniferaniston for her SAG award and her just being the best."

When the two performers aren't complimenting one another, they're co-starring in romantic comedies such as 2011's Just Go With It or 2019's Murder Mystery. But any romance between the pair is allegedly just for the audience's benefit, as Sandler has been happily married since 2003. When an interviewer for W magazine pointed out, "Jennifer Aniston has said that you're a good kisser," Sandler replied, "I'm never excited for romantic scenes, but my wife loves the women I work with. She's always saying, 'Come on, make sure you kiss the best you can.'" That's quite the connection. Join us as we delve into the almost certainly platonic friendship between two of comedy's biggest stars.

In an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live in May 2019, Aniston revealed of Sandler, "We were friends before Friends." And as it turns out, Aniston and Sandler almost costarred together long before they teamed up to make 2011's Just Go With It. During an appearance on Oprah, Sandler explained, "I remember being on the ninth floor where [Saturday Night Live creator] Lorne Michaels' office was, and seeing Jen come in." He continued, "I was like, 'Oh, my God. There's Aniston. Is she about to be on our show?'"

Sandler had hoped that Aniston would join the legendary live comedy series, but she turned it down. As she later explained to Oprah Winfrey, "It was a boys' club." But walking away from a role on such a huge show wasn't easy. "They thought I was making a huge mistake." As it turned out, Aniston snagged her role as Rachel Green on Friends not long after. "Did alright," the actress joked, as an understatement. But it's strange to think how different Aniston's career path might have been if she'd taken a role on Saturday Night Live instead.

Aniston and Sandler aren't just costars, as they have a solid friendship which spans over three decades. In fact, they're so close at this point they could be related. In a joint appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the Little Nicky star confirmed that he and Aniston have a firm friendship. "Very, so comfortable with each other," he explained. "And she knows my family very well, and I know Jen's family."

And when Sandler presented Aniston with the People's Icon Award at the 2019 People's Choice Awards, he left the actress in tears. Per E! News, Aniston said of Sandler's speech, "Adam! When did you get so mushy?! Oh my god, I love this man with all my heart. This is one of the kindest human beings you'll ever meet." She later told the publication, "I've literally known him for 30 years, we're family. Am I crying?" She also explained that she was so emotional over Sandler's speech because "Adam doesn't do this kind of stuff so that's why ... that's just the true sweetness and friendship."

Having starred in two romantic comedies together, Aniston and Sandler have had to get up close and personal as actors, but that doesn't mean they enjoy it. While promoting their Netflix movie Murder Mystery, the comedians gave a joint interview and proved they have a sense of humor when it comes to filming love scenes. Aniston revealed, per the Associated Press, "I did have him learn to oil the beard up a little bit." Sandler's wife, Jackie, costarred in the movie too, which led to some hilarious — and potentially cringeworthy — moments on set.

According to Sandler, "The only awkward part is hearing my wife on the side going, 'Harder! Harder! Kiss her harder! Deeper!'" He continued, "They [Jackie and the couple's two children] watched the kissing. They love it. They love Aniston, and they want her to have good things and they say, 'Give her something nice.'" The Along Came Polly star confirmed that having cheerleaders on set was a little "awkward," but she also said that she likes a man's beard to be "conditioned" — a note for any potential suitors out there.

Unsurprisingly, as the pair have been friends for so long, they practically feel like siblings. "We must've been family, like real family, in another life," Aniston said of Sandler on an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, and the comedy star had to agree. Despite the fact that they've played love interests on two occasions now, Aniston and Sandler have a familial, and not romantic, bond. Appearing on Oprah alongside his Just Go With It costar, Sandler explained, "I'm brotherly to her."

The fact that Sandler and Aniston are so much like brother and sister obviously made filming kissing scenes even more awkward. Sandler told Oprah, "When we were romantic, we were ad-libbing. Jennifer was very uncomfortable in scenes with her brother — I'm brotherly to her — so a brother being that close, she started ad-libbing." He joked, "Like: 'Let me say something funny because your big nose is about to hit me.'" Clearly, that onscreen chemistry we love to see does not translate to a real-life love story.

Like all close friends, Sandler and Aniston regularly share things with one another, and that goes for private jets. In an interview with Extra TV, Aniston revealed that for her 50th birthday, a group of her friends, including Courteney Cox and Molly McNearney, decided to surprise the actress with a secret getaway. However, according to Extra, the trip didn't go according to plan and the plane "was forced to turn around and make an emergency landing after losing a tire." However, the potentially terrifying moment wasn't enough to stop Sandler from taking a trip of his own the next day.

Per Extra TV, Aniston revealed, "The plane landed and Adam took it to Hawaii the next day ... Same plane ... He literally texted me the next day and was like, 'Thanks for your broken plane.'" When quizzed by the host as to why he felt safe getting on Aniston's "broken" plane, the Little Nicky star joked, "I know the Lord would not take away the Sandman." Well played.

The star of The Morning Show might regularly gush about how much she adores Adam Sandler, but there's one thing that Jennifer Aniston doesn't love about the comedian, and that's his wardrobe. In an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Aniston discussed shooting Netflix's Murder Mystery with Sandler on location in Italy. When the host asked Aniston what her costar had worn to dinner at George Clooney's house on Lake Como, Aniston replied, "Well, Adam doesn't have really a great wardrobe." DeGeneres pitched in to confirm, "He doesn't," while Aniston continued, "But he doesn't care. That's his thing. Actually he loves it."

The actress then went on to praise Sandler's partner for comparison. "Jackie, his beautiful wife, always dressed gorgeous." Ellen then showed the audience a photo of Sandler looking seriously casual in a pair of baggy basketball shorts. Aniston quickly reacted to the snap and said, "I'm not kidding, okay wait, those are the shorts." She explained that he dressed it up with a velour shirt in a striking turquoise shade to really complete his look. Basically, when it comes to their friendship, Aniston is the one with the fashion smarts.

Like most of us, Sandler is a big Jennifer Aniston fan, and he especially admires the hard work she puts into her craft. As the Big Daddy star told Access Online in 2011, "It's a beautiful, beautiful thing. Jennifer works hard, she eats right, you know, she does. She never snacks on the stuff I snack on." Just Go With It was shot on location in Hawaii, which meant that a lot of the cast wore bikinis, and Aniston's hard work really paid off. As she revealed to Access Online, "I just was [feeling] pretty confident and I keep in good shape and you know, I felt pretty all right with everything."

However, Sandler still couldn't resist making the odd dig about his beautiful costar, and told The Hollywood Reporter in 2019, "[I] got better over the years, and I think Jennifer is struggling to stay with my chops, but I think ultimately she'll get there the next time." As usual, these two love nothing more than a joke at each other's expense.

Aniston and Sandler are well aware that they have a very easy chemistry with one another, thanks to the fact that they've been friends for such a long time. Having already collaborated on 2011's Just Go With It, getting back together again for 2019's Murder Mystery was apparently very easy. Of her rapport with her costar, Aniston told Fox News, "It's literally like riding a bike. It's like riding a bike — it kind of just comes back because it is a very specific dialogue we have, and a sort of sense of humor that we have together sometimes inside, sometimes very outside. And it's always good when it falls inside."

Sandler confirmed that they couldn't help but tease one another during filming, and regularly went off script and ad-libbed their insults. He told Fox News, "Full attack. Full attack, we go on sometimes. She comes after the poor Sandman." Aniston defended herself and revealed, "It's fun to try to make him break in a scene, that's usually a good sign." The Cake actress also confirmed the immense chemistry she had with Sandler on the set of Just Go With It and told Access Online in 2011, "We had, as we call it, a nice tennis match." Basically, we could watch these two sparring all day.

We all know that Aniston and Sandler crossed paths very early on in their careers, but their very first meeting was not what you'd expect. In an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live in May 2019, Aniston revealed, "We met at Jerry's Deli in 1990 ... 1?" And Sandler confirmed, "Yeah, a while ago ... We were very young. One of my buddies and Jennifer were dating. And we had breakfast." Aniston seemed to suggest that "dating" was taking things a bit too far, but Sandler confirmed, "It was fun. And then we had breakfast together."

It's clearly a story they love telling. In 2010, when Aniston and Sandler were filming their romantic comedy Just Go With It, Sandler opened up about the first time he met his costar. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight (via Viacom CBS), Sandler said, "We met at Jerry's Deli through a bunch of mutual friends. We shared meals together. I watched Aniston eat!" Yes, he lived the dream.

Just as Aniston is the fashionable one in the friendship, she's also apparently the sociable on, too. Sandler revealed on The Ellen Show in 2019, "Every time I'm with Jennifer, something great happens because she's very ... everybody loves Jennifer. And I, er, tend to stay at home and do nothing, and my wife is so much going, 'Why didn't I marry Aniston? Why am I stuck with you, man?' Because I literally will ... Even in Italy, she's like, 'I'm telling you, we gotta leave the room, man.'"

And according to Sandler, during a night at George Clooney's house in Italy, he rather impressively ended up sitting next to Bono because of Aniston. In the same interview, Sandler also revealed, "And her parties are incredible at her house too." But the comedian explained that he's more comfortable having a quiet night in at home than he is socializing, and would rather spend time with his wife and kids than go out anywhere, which is actually pretty sweet.

Just like the rest of the world, Adam Sandler is ready for a Friends reboot or reunion. During an interview with People Now, Sandler proclaimed, "Friends was a powerhouse." He continued, "Everybody on Friends is excellent, everybody likes them. America, the world loves the cast. So for God's sake, make a f***ing movie for everyone." Jennifer Aniston couldn't help but laugh at her friend's request and replied, "That was so mafia of you!" Earlier in the interview, Aniston herself had teased, "[The fans] are excited. They're excited whether you say 'no,' 'maybe,' or 'yes,' so I felt like it was fun to mix it up."

Despite Sandler desperately hoping that Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Ross, Chandler, and Joey would be back together again soon, plans for a reunion special on HBO Max seem to have stalled. Deadline reported in January 2020 that a "big, eight-figure gap between what the cast is seeking money-wise and what the studio is willing to pay" was making the long-discussed event unlikely. Sorry, Sandler.

Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler are so close that they've even, on occasion, gone shopping together. During an interview with 98FM in 2011, the pair discussed filming Just Go With It, which involved them going on a shopping trip to shoot a makeover montage in the movie. While they were in one store, Sandler enlisted Aniston's help, as she told the interviewer, "I was picking out in Gucci this beautiful slingback shoe, and Adam was like, 'C'mon, pick a pair out for Jackie, because I wanna get her something nice.'"

Sandler confirmed that he was a fan of Aniston's fashion smarts and said. "You come home and say Aniston said these would be nice," he revealed, "and it's gonna work in the household." Basically, Aniston really does have impeccable taste, and Sandler's wife Jackie is also a fan of the actress' style. Of the shopping excursion for shoes for Sandler's wife, Aniston joked, "He's gonna get a brownie point, and then some."

In an unexpected turn of events, Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler found themselves speaking to giant ant puppets during an appearance on Spanish talk show El Hormiguero in 2011. While the stars were there to promote Just Go With It, they found themselves being interrupted by the lively puppets. In fact, Aniston looked simply perplexed when they popped out of the table in front of her. When the Friends actress started to explain what her new movie was about, Sandler asked, "Is that an ant I hear?" That's when the puppets appeared and said, "No, it's a translator."

Aniston did greet the puppets by saying, "Hi, ants! Hola!" but later in the interview she asked, "What is happening?" and looked under the table. One of the puppets popped up and said (in Spanish), "I'm not doing anything, I promise," and proceeded to flirt with Aniston. Basically, this might be one of the strangest TV interviews we've ever seen, but we love it.

Funny man Sandler married Jacqueline Samantha Titone in 2003, and per Good Housekeeping, "they tied the knot at Dick Clark's oceanfront Malibu estate. Jennifer Aniston, Rodney Dangerfield, Rob Schneider, and more of his movie co-stars were present." It's worth noting that Sandler's wedding took place long before his first onscreen collaboration with Aniston (which wasn't until 2011), and proves that the pair has always been close. According to Entertainment Weekly, the ceremony was a fun affair with "Sandler's bulldog, Meatball, also nattily attired in a black tux."

Sandler and Aniston's friendship continues to endure, and the Uncut Gems actor told Us Weekly at AARP the Magazine's Movies for Grownups Awards in 2020, "Jennifer and I are great friends ... She works well without me. I'm just glad when she invites me for the ride!" And with his wife Jackie Sandler's kissing tips thrown into the mix, it seems that their friendship is going to last a long, long time.