Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Mia O'Hare

Inside David Schwimmer's deep bond with Jennifer Aniston – dating rumours to kisses

I'll be there for you! Despite Friends finishing 19 years ago, the golden couple that never were still have people's hearts across the world.

David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston have managed to pull on fans' heartstrings for decades, having first hit our screens back in 1994.

The fresh-faced stars played Ross Geller and Rachel Green and we watched as their on-off relationship evolve over the seasons.

Yet, many fans wanted to see the couple's relationship off the screen with speculation ever since.

After 25 years, a bombshell sent Friends fans into a meltdown.

During the reunion episode in May 2021, Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer finally admitted they had feelings for each other in real life.

The pair played Rachel and Ross on Friends (NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
They were on-off lovers (NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

They "channelled" their attraction through their characters, as the pair were in other relationships off-screen.

During the reunion, host James Corden said it was “inconceivable” there were no off-screen romances.

David, 56, revealed: “I had a major crush on Jen,” who, to fans' surprise, replied: “It was reciprocated.”

He added: “We were both crushing hard on each other, but it was like two ships passing. One of us was always in a relationship and we never crossed that boundary.”

Friends aired from 1994 to 2004 (NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

Jennifer, 54, continued: “I remember saying one time to David, ‘It’s going to be such a bummer if the first time you and I actually kiss is on national television.’ And sure enough, it was.

“We just channelled all of our adoration and love for each other into Ross and Rachel.”

Following the reunion, the pair shared flirty messages on their social media accounts as they promoted Friends merchandise.

David posed in a lobster T-shirt featuring a silhouette print of their characters and tagged Jen.

Many fans hoped they were dating in real life (WireImage)
David Schwimmer is divorced (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

In return, Jennifer captioned her post: “For the record… we were SO not on a break”, in reference to their on-screen romance.

In 2022, David poked fun at his co-star on social media.

Jennifer shared a photograph of herself washing her hair in the shower promoting her haircare company Lolavie with the caption: “Something’s coming 9.8.22.”

David hit back at Jen with a cheeky post of him in a shower covered in soap suds and pouting his lips.

They admitted they fancied each other on Friends (NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

He captioned it: “@JenniferAniston – a towel I hope??”

The exchange set fans' hearts racing as Jen replied: “Schwim!? Trying to steal my thunder!?”

On the set of Friends, David revealed the pair used to cuddle together.

"There were moments when we would cuddle on the couch or something," he admitted on the reunion show.

They would cuddle together on set (David Schwimmer/Instagram)

Jennifer added: "We would spoon and fall asleep on the couch."

Following the reunion, dating rumours started to swirl.

However, Schwimmer's representative told Elle it was false news while Anniston responded in an interview, saying that it was 'bizarre' to her.

Jennifer discussed her relationship with her friend's co-star when she appeared on Sirius XM's The Howard Stern Show in 2021.

The pair have denied dating rumours (Channel 4)

She said: "The beauty of that was that whatever feelings we had we just literally channelled everything into Ross and Rachel and I think that's maybe why it resonated the way it did.

"But no, we never - on my life, and Courteney and Lisa would know and can vouch for me."

She added to the host, who was not to convinced: "No. I would proudly say I banged Schwimmer if that happened. But no."

They came back together for the Friends reunion show in 2021 (CBS via Getty Images)

Both stars are single now, so fans point out Jennifer's excuse of not dating one another because one of them was always dating someone else may not stand anymore.

David was married to English artist Zoe Buckman, who he shares a daughter Cleo Buckman Schwimmer with.

Jennifer married actor Brad Pitt in 2000 but divorced in 2005.

She went on to marry Justin Theroux but the couple split in 2017, after two years of marriage.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.