Aniston Auction Abandoned
If you wanted a makeshift birthday card supposedly written on a piece of toilet paper by Jennifer Aniston, you'll have to look elsewhere. Aniston's former fling Michael Baroni, a California lawyer, has canceled his eBay auction, originally set to begin Friday, of keepsakes from the pair's teenage romance.
The goods included a piece of paper with Aniston's name and phone number written in lipstick and a photo of the pair hugging when they first met.
"I have voluntarily canceled the eBay auction upon receiving word from one of Jennifer's representatives that she didn't want me conducting the auction," Baroni said in a statement to The Associated Press on Friday. "I have nothing but fond memories of Jennifer as a friend and only wish her well."
Aniston's representative, Stephen Huvane, didn't immediately return a call Friday for comment.
According to Baroni, there was confusion when three fake auctions popped up on the online auction Web site.
"Any such postings on eBay purporting to be from me were not, in fact, from me," said Baroni.
Baroni claims he had a summer romance in 1984 with Aniston. According to Baroni, their summer lovin' — he was 16, she was 15
turned into a longtime friendship until they lost contact in 1991, when Aniston's showbiz career began to soar.
"She was very fun and lively, a loving kind of person," Baroni told the AP during a phone interview Friday. "I think the materials show an innocent look into someone I think is very endearing."
Baroni's auction was slated for July 29 on eBay with a $100,000 reserve. Baroni wouldn't comment on why he wanted to auction off the items beyond citing "financial reasons."
The package was to include: a piece of paper with Aniston's name and phone number written in lipstick, a love letter from Aniston handwritten in red pen, a note written on toilet paper with birthday wishes from Aniston to Baroni on his 17th birthday, a page from Baroni's little black book containing Aniston's contact information, a photo of the pair hugging when they first met in 1974, an autographed photo from the cast of "Friends," a December 2004 copy of In Touch magazine with an article about their relationship and a notarized statement by Baroni certifying and attesting to the authenticity of the materials.
In January, Aniston and her husband, Brad Pitt, separated after 4 1/2 years of marriage. She filed for divorce in March citing irreconcilable differences.
"I think she's very strong-willed, but at the same time, she gives her heart to whatever she does," said Baroni. "I'm sure the breakup was more his fault that hers."