The actor opened up about his personal and mental struggles during the filming of the popular sitcom.
The Friends reunion special on HBO Max contained many moments for fans who were missing the show. Within the lighthearted memories and laughs, a darker truth about the show came out--that of Matthew Perry and what he was really experiencing during filming.
Perry opened up about his real experience on the show during the special, saying "To me, I felt like I was going to die if they didn't laugh. And it's not healthy, for sure."
Perry has discussed his struggles with mental illness and addiction that followed him during his time on Friends in the past. His character Chandler became a huge fan favorite, known for his witty lines and awkward personality. However, this came at a cost to Perry.
Co-star Jennifer Anniston recently commented on Perry and the struggles he underwent in an interview with Today. "I didn't understand the level of anxiety and self-torture that was put on Matthew Perry, if he didn't get that laugh, and the devastation that he felt," Anniston stated.
Perry discussed his efforts to get sober after dealing with an addiction to Vicodin during Friends. He returned to rehab in 2011, and shortly after his visit, chose to convert his Malibu home into a men's sober living facility.
During the reunion, co-star Lisa Kudrow also commented on the pain that Perry admitted to feeling. She was shocked that Perry "didn't tell" anybody in the cast the way that he was feeling and the struggles that he was facing if he didn't get the laugh that he was hoping for.
Though Perry has faced his fair share of struggles, his life now is much more stable. He has stated that he is sober and recovering from the pain that closely followed him during his time filming Friends.
Despite Perry's recovery, some fans were concerned about his health after watching the Friends reunion. Perry appeared to be slurring his speech, making some fans wonder whether or not he was fully recovered as he claimed he was. A close acquaintance to the actor stated that there was a much simpler reason for his slurred speech: the actor had gotten dental work close to the date of the reunion, causing him to have trouble pronouncing certain words. The acquaintance assured that Perry is in a much happier state now than he was during Friends.
Regardless of his struggles, fans are proud that Perry has made it as far as he has and has recovered in the way that he did. Perry's revelation that there is a period of time on Friends that he can't remember filming because he was so out of it struck home for many who have undergone similar struggles in their lives. Perry has inspired his fans across the globe, and continues to act as a model of hope for them.