Anyone who has been in a long-term relationship knows that remaining friends with an ex is a near-impossible task. It takes a lot of patience, a good dose of maturity, and even still—it has to be the right combination of people. In Esquire's latest cover story, Justin Theroux explains how he and ex Jennifer Aniston have managed to pull it off.

Theroux says they remain on good terms after divorcing in 2018. Since details of the couple's split remained sparse, tabloid media settled on the story that Aniston wanted a life in Los Angeles; Theroux, in New York. "Look, people create narratives that make themselves feel better or simplify things for them," he tells Esquire for its April/May issue. "That whole ‘This person likes rock ’n’ roll, that person likes jazz. Of course!’ That’s just not the case. It’s an oversimplification."