Jennifer Aniston Fires Back at Bill O'Reilly

By: Jessica Derschowitz
Topics: News

Actress Jennifer Aniston poses during a press conference for the movie "The Bounty Hunter" in Berlin, Germany, on March 29, 2010.

(Credit: AP Photo/Gero Breloer))

NEW YORK (CBS) Jennifer Aniston is firing back at Fox News anchor Bill O'Reilly, after he responded to comments she made about single mothers by calling the actress comments "destructive to our society."

Pictures: Jennifer Aniston

"Of course, the ideal scenario for parenting is obviously two parents of a mature age. Parenting is one of the hardest jobs on earth," Aniston told People magazine. "And, of course, many women dream of finding Prince Charming (with fatherly instincts), but for those who've not yet found their Bill O'Reilly, I'm just glad science has provided a few other options."

Special Section: Eye on Parenting

While promoting her new film "The Switch," in which she plays a women who decides to get pregnant using a sperm donor, Aniston told reporters that "times have changed" and women no longer have to wait for a man to have a baby.

"Women are realizing it more and more knowing that they don't have to settle with a man just to have that child," she said. "Love is love and family is what is around you and who is in your immediate sphere."

On "The O'Reilly Factor" last week, the host accused the actress of "diminishing the role of the dad" and called her comments "destructive to our society."

"She's throwing a message out to 12-year-olds and 13-year-olds that hey, you don't need a guy, you don't need a dad," O'Reilly said.

"Aniston can hire a battery of people to help her, but she cannot hire a dad," he continued. "And dads bring a psychology to children that is, in this society, under-emphasized. I think that men get hosed all day long in the parental arena...any man who leaves their children is not a man. Let's make that perfectly clear. But the fathers who do try hard are under-appreciated and diminished by people like Jennifer Aniston."

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by timfey August 19, 2010 5:33 PM EDT: The meat of this issue I think everyone can agree on is that the ideal family environment for children consists of a loving mother and father. That should be emphasized as the ideal every family should strive for (think both Jen/Bill said that). Everyone should empathize with the single moms raising kids (none of which I know purposefully conceive a child with direct intent to raise them by themselves). The line Jen crosses here though is to promote (by her movie and comments) a clear decision to begin a family by having a child without a father. It is one think to end up in a non-ideal family situation due to circumstances outside the single parent?s control (the dad dies, unfaithful, etc). These situations receive divine assistance and we see wonderful Moms strengthened all around us in these circumstances. It is quite another thing to intentionally begin a family in this challenging fatherless configuration. It is selfish and demeans womanhood/motherhood to put the interests of a woman who desires children above the interest of the conceived child and the right the child has to the best chance possible of having a loving mother AND father. Truly caring mothers recognize the child?s welfare and needs are more important than their own desire for company.; Reply to this comment


by lj99m August 15, 2010 8:00 AM EDT: YES WE WILL TAKE NOTICE OF A FULL TIME ACTRESS. SO WHO WILL BE THERE AS A MOTHER>>>>>> YOU.......... GEEZ YOU ARE SO FULL OF IT. BEEN WATCHING OPRAH TOO MUCH HAVE YA.; Reply to this comment


by jdoug10 August 13, 2010 10:51 PM EDT: Bill is a ******. Please, having a father and not having a father is OK. There are no psychological problems with not having a father around. That is what they want you to think so that they can steer guys away from not leaving the woman so that they do not have to pay child support.

Also, the only thing that is destructive to our society are gays and illegal immigrants.; Reply to this comment


by kcsteak2 August 13, 2010 7:06 PM EDT: What a ditz.; Reply to this comment


by TiffC74 August 13, 2010 5:00 PM EDT: Jenn, when are you and Neil Fifer having a baby?; Reply to this comment


by cshepherd6 August 13, 2010 3:43 PM EDT: Everytime Anniston has a new movie out she has to create interest in the movie by inserting herself into serious topic which are above her pay scale...maybe She doesnt need a father but a baby so does; Reply to this comment


by rdupuy11 August 13, 2010 1:05 PM EDT: Bill wake up. Men rarely leave their children, they are forced out.

I just wish if he would comment on the subject, he'd actually educate himself on the reality. When your wife decides she's bored and divorces you, Dad goes into Court and asks for equal time and equal support from both parents.

Mom, motivated by a desire to collect child support, demands full control.
Dad may get a few days visitation.

I would use those few days visitation - but that doesn't change the fact, that for all practical purposes he was forced out of his child's life - no equal time, no equal decision making, no role as a Dad, only 'visitor'.

And - if he tries to insist on equal time - that's called federal kidnapping.
IF the mother interferes with the visitation - that's usually has no consequences of any kind for her.

The system is totally biased in favor of women. At least Jennifer's version of needing complete control, doesn't involve the cruelty of destroying Dad, after the fact.; Reply to this comment