Thanksgiving is an important family-centered tradition, but for many celebrities, it’s also a day to celebrate friendship with a special twist: Friendsgiving. Over the years, many stars have shared heartwarming memories and gatherings, proving that gratitude and good company are at the heart of the holiday. From cozy dinners to glamorous feasts, here’s how some of Hollywood’s biggest names have celebrated Friendsgiving.
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taylor swift
Taylor Swift has long cherished the joy of gathering loved ones together during the holiday season. In 2016, the Grammy Award-winning singer spent Thanksgiving surrounded by close friends, including Martha Hunt, Lily Donaldson, and Todrick Hall. Taylor shared snapshots from the festival on social media, but those posts have since been deleted. Todrick also recorded the event, giving fans a glimpse of the fun dinner. Fast forward to 2019, and Taylor once again hosted a Friendsgiving celebration. Teen Vogue reported that Antoni Porowski, Gigi Hadid and Martha Hunt joined her for the occasion. The cozy moment was captured in a group photo Gigi shared on her Instagram Story, which she captioned, “I love you all.” Antoni reposted the image and added, “Until next year,” highlighting the warmth of the annual tradition.
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jennifer aniston
Jennifer Aniston is the queen of Friendsgiving, hosting the annual celebration on the eve of Thanksgiving. During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2018, Jennifer’s longtime friend Jimmy Kimmel humorously suggested changing the menu. “For Thanksgiving, we cook a lot of food: turkey, yams, sweet potatoes. But for your event, we had all of those things,” Jimmy joked. “Then I’m going to make another batch of what everyone ate the night before. So you’ve turned my meal into leftovers.” Jennifer took his suggestion to heart. In 2019, I made enchiladas specifically for Jimmy for Friendsgiving. She documented the moment on Instagram, sharing a photo of the dish labeled “Jimmy’s fucking enchilada” and a video of Jimmy’s delighted reaction. “Finally someone listened to me!” he exclaimed.
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oprah winfrey
Oprah Winfrey, known for her generosity, has a long-standing tradition of inviting students from the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls to her home for Thanksgiving. In 2016, Oprah and her partner Stedman Graham invited a group of students to a memorable meal. Oprah shared a photo of the joyful gathering on Instagram, writing, “Finally dinner! From our home to South Africa to yours… Blessings.” This tradition has continued for years, and in 2021 students will return for a pre-Thanksgiving feast featuring South African cuisine.
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amy schumer
Amy Schumer kept things lighthearted during her 2015 Friendsgiving celebration with fellow stars Jennifer Lawrence and Aziz Ansari. The three posed for a playful photo on the beach at sunset, which Amy shared on Instagram. “Thanksgiving dream,” the Trainwreck actress captioned the post, perfectly summarizing the picturesque gathering.
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kylie jenner
Kylie Jenner brought her signature flair to Friendsgiving 2019. The beauty mogul shared a photo of her exquisitely decorated dining table on Instagram. Each guest had a personalized place card with a playful nickname. Kylie wrote “Daddy Long Legs” for her sister Kendall Jenner, and cheekily wrote “600 Mill” on her own card, which means she’s selling a majority stake in Kylie Cosmetics. It is named after the dollar contract. She even included a card that said “Beyoncé” on it as a joke, but the music icon wasn’t actually in attendance. Kylie’s thoughtful and humorous response made the evening unforgettable.
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rob lowe
Rob Lowe found solace in Friendsgiving when he was away from his family in 2018. Parks and Recreation actor Rob Lowe posted a heartfelt photo on Instagram showing off his Thanksgiving cooking with co-star Aziz Ansari. “I miss my family away from home,” Rob wrote in the caption. “But thanks to this amazing chef, we were able to share a beautiful Thanksgiving anyway. It was literally delicious!” This snapshot includes sharing the holiday with close friends, even if family members can’t attend. The joy of doing so was captured.
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joaquin phoenix
Joaquin Phoenix also has fond memories of Friendsgiving. During an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman in 2014, Joaquin revealed that Thanksgiving is often attended by family and friends. He started the day with his sister and nephews, then hosted an “Orphan Appreciation Party” for friends who didn’t have family nearby. The Joker stars, who are committed vegans, shared an unconventional detail about their meals: They ate organic mesquite grass. “It might sound disgusting, but it’s actually a really good thing,” Joaquin joked, showing off his unique approach to the holidays.
