It’s been two decades since Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt’s highly publicized divorce, yet the emotional echoes of their split continue to resonate for the Friends star. In a candid new interview with Vogue, Aniston, now 56, opened up about the fateful night in 2005 when Pitt confessed a devastating truth about their marriage—a revelation that led to their painful but ultimately necessary separation. The interview, part of a promotional push for her skincare line Lolavie, marks a rare moment of vulnerability for Aniston, who has largely kept her feelings about the divorce private.

Aniston and Pitt, once Hollywood’s golden couple, married in a lavish Malibu ceremony in 2000, captivating fans with their red-carpet appearances and shared projects like Pitt’s 2001 guest appearance on Friends. Their union, however, began to unravel in 2004 amid rumors of Pitt’s growing closeness with Angelina Jolie, his co-star in Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Aniston revealed in the interview that the rumors culminated in a heart-wrenching conversation in early 2005, just months before their official split. “Brad came to me one night and told me the truth—he had developed feelings for Angelina,” Aniston shared. “It was like the ground fell out from under me. But in that moment, I knew we couldn’t go on.”

The “terrible truth,” as Aniston described it, wasn’t just Pitt’s admission of feelings for Jolie, but the realization that their marriage had been fraying for longer than she’d admitted to herself. “We’d been drifting, and I think we both knew it deep down,” she said. “His honesty, as painful as it was, forced us to face reality.” The couple announced their separation in January 2005, and their divorce was finalized later that year. Pitt and Jolie went public with their relationship shortly after, welcoming their first child together in 2006.

Aniston described the decision to part ways as “painful but completely right,” emphasizing that both she and Pitt handled the split with as much grace as they could muster. “We didn’t want to drag it out or let it turn into something ugly,” she said. “We agreed to separate with respect, and we did.” The couple issued a joint statement at the time, insisting their decision was “not the result of any of the speculation reported by the tabloid media” and affirming their commitment to remain friends—a promise they’ve kept, as evidenced by their warm reunion at Aniston’s 50th birthday party in 2019.

Despite the passage of 20 years, Aniston admitted that the night of Pitt’s confession still haunts her. “It’s one of those moments that never really leaves you,” she told Vogue. “I can still picture the look on his face, the way the room felt so heavy. But I don’t hold onto anger—I hold onto the lesson.” That lesson, she explained, was about self-worth and resilience. Aniston went on to marry Justin Theroux in 2015, though they divorced in 2018, and has since focused on her career and personal growth, becoming a vocal advocate for self-love and mental health.

Fans have reacted to Aniston’s revelations with an outpouring of support on social media. “Jen’s strength is inspiring—she turned that pain into power,” one X user wrote. Another added, “It’s amazing to see her and Brad on good terms now after everything.” Pitt, 61, has also reflected on the divorce in recent years, telling GQ in 2017 that he took responsibility for his role in the marriage’s breakdown, citing his own struggles with substance use at the time.

As Aniston continues to thrive—her recent producing work on The Morning Show has earned critical acclaim—she remains a symbol of grace under pressure. Two decades after that fateful night, she’s proving that even the most painful truths can lead to a brighter, more authentic future.