Director Penelope Spheeris has publicly accused Jennifer Aniston of orchestrating a humiliating on-set prank during the production of their 2011 Lifetime anthology film, Five. According to Spheeris, she was presented with an inappropriate novelty item designed to embarrass her in front of her film crew, an incident she attributes directly to the Friends star.
Spheeris detailed the strange encounter during an appearance on The Moynihan Report podcast. While her assertions rely largely on circumstantial evidence rather than direct confirmation, the veteran filmmaker remains convinced that Aniston was behind the package.
The On-Set Incident During Filming of ‘Five’
The project, Five, brought together several prominent female directors-including Spheeris, Aniston, Demi Moore, Alicia Keys, and Patty Jenkins-to direct short films centered on breast cancer awareness. According to Spheeris, the incident occurred near the conclusion of a demanding workday.
Recalling the event to podcast host Michael Moynihan, Spheeris explained that an assistant director asked her to remain seated while the entire production crew gathered around her. A producer then approached her bearing a wrapped gift box.
“I go, ‘Well, that’s cute, so sweet,’” Spheeris recalled. “I open it. There’s a f***in’ dildo in there. In front of the whole crew, I’m supposed to open up a dildo. Thanks. It was a mean-spirited dildo to humiliate me in front of the whole crew.”
The 80-year-old director added dryly that the item “had rhinestones pasted on it,” joking that “you couldn’t even use it.” Despite the awkwardness, Spheeris did not immediately confront anyone on set.
Connecting the Gift Box to Jennifer Aniston
Spheeris stated that her belief in Aniston’s involvement stems from a subsequent encounter at an awards season event. Following the release of Five, the directors involved-along with Aniston-were nominated at the Directors Guild Awards for outstanding direction of a TV film.
During the ceremony, Spheeris claims she observed Aniston carrying a package wrapped in what she recognized as “the same kind of gift box” that had contained the rhinestone-covered novelty item on her film set.
“And she comes over to where I’m at and I said, ‘Oh, what you got in there, another dildo?’” Spheeris recounted. According to the director, Aniston replied, “No, it’s a present for Marta Kauffman,” referencing the co-creator of Friends.
Despite the explanation, Spheeris remained steadfast in her sus**cion. “It was the same box. It was the same gift box. So those are Jennifer Aniston’s gift boxes,” she remarked during the podcast interview, acknowledging the provocative nature of her claims by adding, “So yeah, I’ll get sued for that, but whatever.”
Response From Jennifer Aniston’s Camp
Representatives and sources close to Jennifer Aniston have pushed back against the narrative. An insider told the press that the Horrible Bosses star has “no recollection of her ever having given this gift.”
Additionally, sources questioned the plausibility of the gesture, noting that if Aniston had genuinely intended to offer a gift to a fellow director, it likely would have included a standard accompanying card.
Neither Spheeris nor Aniston has pursued further formal action regarding the claims, which resurfaced years after the premiere of the anthology film. Representatives for both figures have been approached for additional comment as the podcast interview continues to circulate online.
