Newly engaged Justin Theroux still feels ‘protective’ over ex-wife Jennifer Aniston

Case of the ex?

Justin Theroux, who is newly engaged to Nicole Brydon Bloom, said he still feels “protective” over his ex-wife, Jennifer Aniston.

In a new interview with the Times, the “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” actor said he and the “Friends” alum – whom he was married to from 2015 to 2017 – are still close and that he was proud of her when she clapped back at republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance over his controversial comments about women who don’t have children.

“She is still very dear to me so, of course, yeah, I feel protective,” Theroux told the outlet. “But she batted back criticism, as well she should.”

The “Leftovers” alum, 53, and Aniston, 55, secretly tied the knot in August 2015 at their BelAir, Calif., home.

Sources told Page Six at the time that the “Murder Mystery” actress notified people they were attending a surprise birthday party for Theroux to keep the wedding a secret.

Several A-listers attended the Jimmy Fallon-officiated wedding, including Aniston’s “Friends” co-stars Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow, along with Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Sandra Bullock and Ellen DeGeneres.

Two years later, the duo announced they were ending their marriage but looked “forward to continuing our cherished friendship.”

A source exclusively told Page Six at the time that the actors couldn’t make it work because Theroux wanted to be in New York and Aniston wanted to be in LA.

The “Mulholland Drive” star and the “Morning Show” actress continued to remain friends over the years, even catching dinner together at celebrity hotspot Il Cantinori in NYC in April 2023.

Theroux is now in a committed relationship with his fiancée, Bloom, whom he popped the question to in Italy last week while the couple was in town for the Venice Film Festival.

On Thursday, the “1BR” actress, 30, walked the red carpet with Theroux wearing a massive diamond ring on that finger.

The actor proposed with a custom, “one-of-a-kind” four-carat engagement ring designed by jeweler Stephanie Gottlieb.

Theroux told the Times he was “nervous” getting down on one knee, but said it was a “wonderful” moment.

The filmmaker and Bloom were first romantically linked in February 2023 and made their red carpet debut at the Vanity Fair Oscar party in March.