Director Penelope Spheeris claims Jennifer Aniston publicly embarrassed her with a sex toy while they were working on the 2011 anthology movie “Five.”
Speaking on the “Moynihan Report” podcast, the 80-year-old filmmaker alleged that Aniston, known for “Friends,” gave her a rhinestone-studded dildo so heavily decorated that, in Spheeris’ words, it was “so decorated you couldn’t even use it.”
Spheeris said the unusual present was handed to her by a producer, but she believes it came in a style of gift box frequently associated with Aniston.
“At the end of the shoot, the assistant director comes over and says, ‘Have a seat in the chair,’” Spheeris recalled. “I sit down and the whole crew gathers around. Her producer walks up with a gift box.”
At first, Spheeris thought the gathering might involve a thoughtful surprise. That changed when she opened the package. “There [was] a f–king dildo in there in front of the whole crew. I’m supposed to open up a dildo?” she said.
The director characterized the alleged prank as “mean-spirited” and said a later incident strengthened her belief that Aniston was responsible.
Spheeris recalled seeing Aniston carrying a similar box when the filmmakers were nominated for a Directors Guild Award in 2012. “She comes over and I go, ‘What’s in there? Another dildo?’ And she goes, ‘No, it’s a present for [producer] Marta Kauffman,’” Spheeris said.
“But it was the same box,” she added. “The same gift box. Those were Jennifer Aniston’s gift boxes.”
Spheeris acknowledged that sharing the story could create legal trouble, joking, “I’ll get sued for that but whatever.”
Aniston’s representative did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment on the allegation.
Released by Lifetime, “Five” brought together five short films exploring the emotional and personal effects of breast cancer.
Aniston, 57, and Spheeris each directed a segment, joining fellow filmmakers Alicia Keys, Demi Moore and Patty Jenkins on the project.
In an August 2011 interview with Glamour, Aniston said she hoped the anthology would raise awareness about breast cancer “without being heavy-handed.”
“Cancer affects all of us, whether you’re a daughter, mother, sister, friend, coworker, doctor, patient,” Aniston said at the time. “These films touch on that reality.”
The actress later made headlines after visiting a breast cancer center alongside Jill Biden, where she spoke with survivors.
Lifetime followed “Five” with “Call Me Crazy,” a 2013 anthology focused on mental illness. Its segments were directed by Bryce Dallas Howard, Bonnie Hunt, Ashley Judd, Laura Dern and Sharon Maguire.