Jesse Watters, a host on Fox News, is facing backlash following remarks made about Jennifer Aniston’s appearance on a recent episode of The Five.

The discussion, initially centered on women’s appearances and former Representative Katie Porter, took a surprising turn when co-host Greg Gutfeld suggested that attractiveness only emerged with the advent of the internet. “Watch Friends,” Gutfeld quipped, “they’re not even hot!”

Watters chimed in, seemingly in agreement, stating, “Jennifer Aniston looks better now, like, 20 years older.”

As the segment concluded, Watters attempted to clarify his stance, saying, “I actually think Jennifer Aniston was much better looking in Friends. I don’t know why I said that. I think I meant she is more glamorous now.”

These comments have sparked significant online reaction, particularly given Watters’ history of stirring controversy.

Years ago, he admitted to deflating the car tires of a 25-year-old intern to put himself in a position to offer her a ride home. Watters, 39 at the time and already married, later married that same intern. 

Fox News host Jesse Watters is under fire after taking aim at Jennifer Aniston ’s looks during Wednesday’s episode of The Five

The segment quickly veered off course when Greg Gutfeld claimed, ‘People didn’t get attractive until the internet,’ adding, ‘ watch Friends, they’re not even hot!’ and Watters jumped in, seemingly agreeing, saying, ‘Jennifer Aniston looks better now, like, 20 years older’; (Aniston in September 2025)

One critic didn’t mince words, posting, ‘Not taking opinions from a man who intentionally vandalized a woman’s car so he could have a better chance at having sex with her while he was married.’

Other social media reactions were equally sharp: ‘@JesseBWatters wife has to be a miserable woman,’ wrote one. 

Another summed it up with a single word: ‘He’s a neanderthal.’

And one user nailed the obvious point: ‘Why would they be commenting on someone’s appearance period?’

Even during the segment, it seemed some of Watters’ colleagues were ready to move on from the awkward Aniston discussion. 

Co-host Harold Ford Jr. tried to cut him off, saying, ‘Why don’t we get on to the next segment?’

But Katie Pavlich wasn’t letting it go, pointing out that Aniston’s current ‘glam’ comes courtesy of her wealth. 

‘Money buys a lot of makeover, for everyone,’ she argued. 

Not satisfied, he circled back as the segment wound down, trying to clarify: ‘I actually think Jennifer Aniston was much better looking in Friends, I don’t know why I said that. I think I meant she was more glamorous now’

The comments ignited a storm online—especially given Watters’ past controversies

‘I hope so,’ Watters replied.

The conversation about Aniston’s looks originally kicked off with Gutfeld joking about former Rep. Katie Porter, who has made headlines for several public outbursts, calling her a ‘hero’ for resisting society’s pressure to get a makeover. 

‘I admire her, because we’re living in the age of appearances, we’re always on camera, we film everything, TVs are high def, and she is resisting the makeover. She is saying, “I will never, ever change who I am.” She is a hero,’ Gutfeld quipped.

He continued, reflecting on the pre-internet era: ‘Back in the 1970s, everybody looked like Katie Porter. 

‘We did not have YouTube instructional videos about how to straighten your hair, how to pop a zit, all we had was Clearasil, Stridex, Aquanet and Seabreeze, and none of it works. 

‘She was every woman at a singles bar, she was your friend’s mom and she was 30.’

Back in April 2022, Watters made a bizarre on-air admission, saying that he deflated the car tires of a 25-year-old colleague in order to be in a position where he could offer her a ride home. 

Watters, who was 39 at the time and already married, also said that the woman in question was Emma DiGiovina – who ultimately became his second wife. The two were married in December 2019. 

The conversation about Aniston’s looks originally kicked off with Gutfeld joking about former Rep. Katie Porter, who has made headlines for several public outbursts, jokingly calling her a ‘hero’ for resisting society’s pressure to get a makeover

Even during the segment, it seemed some of Watters’ colleagues were ready to move on from the awkward Aniston discussion

‘When I was trying to get Emma to date me, first thing I did, let the air out of her tires,’ he said with a smile. 

‘She couldn’t go anywhere, she needed a lift,’ Watters said. ‘I said “Hey you need a lift?” She got right into the car,’ he bragged. 

After his co-hosts expressed surprise, Watters claimed that his wife was unaware of his antics to this day.

Watters then appeared to justify the trick by stating that the pair are now married.  

‘It has a happy ending,’ Watters declared.

Another of his colleagues then asked if he had taken the air out of other women’s cars in order to get them into his own – to which he implied that he may well have done. 

‘Is that the first time you did it, or did you use that before?’ Jeannine Pirro inquired.

‘It works like a charm!’ he bragged.

Years ago, he admitted to deflating the car tires of a 25-year-old intern to put himself in a position to offer her a ride home. Watters, 39 at the time and already married, later married that same intern; Watters, who was 39 at the time and already married, also said that the woman in question was Emma DiGiovina (pictured)

It was 2018 when Watters was divorcing his first wife Noelle Watters, pictured, who is mother to his two daughters

The incident apparently occurred in 2018, when Watters was divorcing his first wife Noelle Watters – who is mother to his two daughters.

At the time, he was already in a working relationship with DiGiovine, an associate producer who worked at Fox News.

When Watters and DiGiovine told bosses they were in a relationship together, she was switched to a different program on the network.  

A Fox News spokesperson said at the time that Watters and ‘a woman on his staff’ told the network in 2017 that they were in a relationship. 

Fox News has been enveloped in sexual misconduct scandals in recent years, including various allegations that led to the resignation of longtime CEO Roger Ailes in 2016.

Ailes was accused of repeatedly harassing female employees, including anchor Gretchen Carlson, whose lawsuit helped trigger his ouster.