Jennifer Aniston criticised for ‘first pandemic’ Christmas ornament

‘Imagine a pandemic just being a quirky cultural thing and not a devastating and traumatic interruption’

Jennifer Aniston criticised over pandemic Christmas ornament (Getty Images)

Jennifer Aniston is facing a backlash after sharing a photo of a pandemic-themed Christmas ornament to her Instagram Stories.

On Christmas Day, the Friends star uploaded a photo of a wooden ornament engraved: “Our first pandemic 2020".

While the actress did not specify whether the ornament was hers, her name began trending on Twitter shortly after she shared the photo, with many accusing Aniston of being “insensitive”.

“Why would she think this was a good idea? Why do celebrities not use logic? Why,” one person questioned on Twitter.

Another said: “Not Jennifer Aniston romanticising a pandemic.”

“Jennifer Aniston putting ‘our first pandemic’ on a Christmas ornament like it's something fun and quirky to be remembered… I can't stand rich people,” someone else wote.

However, others have come to the actress’s defence, with some fans suggesting that the ornament was Aniston’s way of “coping with humour”.

“If you’re pressed about Jennifer Aniston’s ‘first pandemic’ ornament then you sincerely have zero sense of humour,” one person tweeted. “Everybody copes differently. Doesn’t mean she doesn’t get the weight of this year. Just means she’s coping with humour. It wasn’t even an offensive saying?”

Someone else criticised cancel culture, tweeting: : “I love how people are going to cancel Jennifer Aniston for an ORNAMENT like c'mon seriously there are bigger issues.”

Fans also pointed out that the 51-year-old has been using her platform to encourage people to follow coronavirus safety precautions since the pandemic began. On Instagram, where she has more than 36m followers, Aniston has urged her followers to wear masks while also promoting small businesses and restaurants.

“If you’re upset about Jennifer Aniston’s ornament Instagram story - let’s not forget how she plugged small businesses to try to help them in a hard time, and urges people to wear masks in pretty much every post she makes…” one person tweeted.

In June, Aniston shared a masked selfie with a plea for others to wear masks.

“I understand masks are inconvenient and uncomfortable. But don’t you feel that it’s worse that businesses are shutting down... jobs are being lost... health care workers are hitting absolute exhaustion. And so many lives have been taken by this virus because we aren’t doing enough,” she wrote at the time. “I really do believe in the basic goodness of people so I know we can all do this.”

As of now, Aniston has not addressed the criticism over the Christmas ornament.