Filed under: Celebrities

Jennifer Aniston better keep her friends close to keep from landing on the front page of the National Enquirer. The tabloid recently offered a woman $20,000 in an effort to prove the former sitcom sweetheart is a cocaine user, according to Radar.

The Enquirer’s interest began with a January 25 blind item in the New York Daily News‘ “Gatecrasher” column, which asked:

“That actress who had surgery on her septum? Who knew she still had one?”

Shortly after the item was published, an editor at the Enquirer contacted “Gatecrasher” writer Ben Widdicombe for access to his tipster. The editor offered to pay Widdicombe’s source $20,000 if she would take a lie detector test, which the Enquirer often demands to protect itself from libel suits. Widdicombe, who declined to comment, passed along the request to the source, said to be a “friend” of Jen’s.

It appears the friend rejected the deal.

Of course, none of this means that the All-American Actress is a fan of the All-American drug — only that the Enquirer would like very much to make money off of speak with anyone willing to testify that she has.

Asked about the offer, an Enquirer spokesman says, “The Enquirer would never comment on any pending or planning editorial ever. As far as this goes, I have no knowledge of it.”

What a fun way to approach “editorial”! Hey, I’d love to talk to someone who’s seen Isaiah Washington get jiggy with Andy Dick. Or just thinks Helen Mirren enjoys the Bolivian marching powder. Anyone? Anyone?

(Thanks, Meg!)