Newly engaged Justin Theroux still has “protective instincts” towards ex-wife Jennifer Aniston

Case of the ex?

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

In a new interview with the Times, the “Beetlejuice” actor said he and the “Friends” alumna — who he was married to from 2015 to 2017 — are still close and that he was proud of her when she stood up to Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance over his controversial comments about childless women.

“I still care deeply about her, so of course I’m protective of her,” Theroux told the outlet. “But she’s pushed back on the criticism, as she should.”

The 53-year-old “Leftovers” star and 55-year-old Aniston secretly married at their home in BelAir, California in August 2015.

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

The ceremony, hosted by Jimmy Fallon, was attended by several celebrities, including Aniston’s “Friends” co-stars Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow, as well as Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Sandra Bullock and Ellen DeGeneres.

Two years later, the couple announced that 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 remained friends over the years and even had dinner together at celebrity hotspot Il Cantinori in New York in April 2023.

Theroux is now in a committed relationship with his fiancée Bloom, to whom he proposed last week in Italy when the couple were in town for the Venice Film Festival.

On Thursday, the 30-year-old “1BR” actress walked the red carpet with Theroux wearing a huge diamond ring on The 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” when he got down on one knee, but said it was a “wonderful” moment.

The filmmaker and Bloom’s romantic relationship began in February 2023 and they made their red carpet debut at the Vanity Fair Oscar party in March.