Matthew Perry Made Things Uncomfortable On The Friends Reunion. Here's Why
Matthew Perry has been open about his issues with addiction. The actor was prescribed Vicodin after a 1997 ski accident, kickstarting his problem with prescription pills (per OK! Magazine). At its worst, Perry admitted to taking 20 to 30 pills a day while also battling alcohol addiction.
"It wasn't my intention to have a problem with it," he told People in an interview in 2002. "But from the start I liked how it made me feel, and I wanted to get more."
What many "Friends" fans never realized is that Perry's darkest period was during some of the most successful years of his life. The actor did two stints in rehab, one in 1997 and later in 2000, all while portraying the lovable Chandler Bing on the record-breaking sitcom.
"I don't remember three years of it," he admitted in a 2016 interview on BBC Radio 2's The Chris Evans Breakfast Show. "I was a little out of it at the time — somewhere between seasons three and six."
The cast dances around mentions of Matthew Perry's experience at the reunion
Variety critic Caroline Framke notes that the "Friends" reunion doesn't look to talk about hard truths in the way fans were pleasantly surprised to see during "The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air" reunion months ago. "Perry has mentioned in the past about how his addiction struggles impacted his time on the show to the point that he had to enter rehab. The special ultimately declines to discuss any his troubled experience explicitly, but it nonetheless lingers around the margins with palpable unease," Framke notes.
At one point, the castmates talk about staying in touch. Perry dryly jokes that he doesn't hear "from anyone," so delivered that viewers wonder if that's the truth of the matter. Later, as they talk about how badly they wanted to make the audience laugh, Perry says he felt "like I was going to die if they didn't laugh." He says it "wasn't healthy, for sure." Co-star Lisa Kudrow sadly notes that none of them ever knew he felt that way, but as quickly as the moment came, it went as they moved on to the next subject.
Fans were concerned about Matthew Perry's sobriety as recently as last week
Fans expressed concern when the "Friends" reunion trailer showed Matthew Perry staring off and slurring his words. Many wondered if going back to this difficult time in his life had caused the actor to relapse. Others familiar with the health issues he's faced while recovering were concerned that something more could be at play.
The rumors bounced around unaddressed for days until a source close to Perry offered an explanation. "Matthew turned up to the reunion [in April] and members of his team said that he had an emergency tooth procedure that day," the source told The New York Post. "That was said to impact his wellbeing and also how he was feeling."
"He had been in pain from what we understand, which caused the slurred speech," the source continued. "Obviously no one wants to film after a procedure, but it happened. The feeling was one of huge sympathy for Matthew, especially in recent days given how people have reacted online. Matthew has told those around him that he is sober, and there is no need to worry."
If you or anyone you know has issues with addiction, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
There was another Friends reunion without Matthew
It's impossible to think of "Friends" without Matthew Perry's Chandler Bing, but there was technically a "Friends" reunion without him. In 2016, the cast minus Perry gathered for a special dedicated to legendary TV director James Burrows. Burrows worked on "Friends," as well as other iconic shows like "Cheers," "Taxi," and "Will & Grace".
The cast sat down for an interview moderated by Andy Cohen, but Perry's absence was felt. He was in London at the time, in the middle of rehearsals for his playwriting debut, "The End of Longing" (per The Daily Beast). Perry did submit a short video message, but the reunion didn't live up to its high expectations in the slightest. So far, it doesn't seem like fans are feeling the same way about the HBO Max reunion.
In it, the cast is asked what advice they would give themselves if they could go back in time to before the first show aired. They all delivered heartfelt answers, but Perry's is perhaps the most interesting. "Do an eleventh season," he joked (per People). "Friends" fans hope that the bit of humor means that the experience wasn't altogether awful for Perry despite how he may have struggled throughout it.