Jennifer Aniston’s Boyfriend Jim Curtis Opens Up About Health Struggles

Jennifer Aniston and her boyfriend, Jim Curtis, spoke publicly about his health struggles during a rare joint appearance in New York City on Wednesday, Sept. 2.

The couple attended an event at the 92nd Street Y to celebrate Curtis’ new book, The Book of Possibility. Curtis, 50, discussed how a serious health diagnosis in his 20s changed his outlook on life.

Curtis said doctors discovered lesions on his spinal cord that caused chronic nerve damage and partial paralysis. He now walks with a limp and described the diagnosis as “an ultimate low.”

Recalling his experience in a New York City emergency room, Curtis said he was in severe pain and waited about 13 hours to be seen. After learning his diagnosis, he searched for information online and became overwhelmed by fear.

Over time, Curtis said he learned to accept his condition and reject the idea of seeing himself as a victim.

“You don’t have to live as the victim. You don’t have to live in your suffering,” he said. “Your struggles can become your power as soon as you accept [them] and you love [them].”

Curtis also revealed that he once told people he had been injured in a motorcycle accident because he felt ashamed of having a medical condition. He said self-acceptance and self-love eventually helped him overcome those feelings.

During the event, Aniston, 57, asked Curtis how he would advise someone who feels trapped in a career or lifestyle that no longer feels right.

Curtis said he does not encourage people to abandon their responsibilities without a plan. Instead, he urged people not to let fear prevent them from pursuing their goals.

“There’s a reality of life too. You have rent to pay and medical bills to pay and kids to feed,” he said. “But I will say this: you don’t have to let fear stop you from living your dream.”

Aniston and Curtis have been romantically linked since July 2025. PEOPLE reported in May that the couple had celebrated their first anniversary. A source described their relationship as a “great partnership” and said Curtis makes Aniston “very happy.”

Curtis has also spoken about Aniston’s close circle of friends, including Friends co-star Courteney Cox, describing the group as “like family.” He said he feels “incredibly blessed” to have been welcomed into it.