Following the phenomenon that was Friends finishing its 10-season run in 2004, big fans have maintained a strong tie to the show ever since. The show produced some amazing moments that still have fans laughing, crying, and "pivoting", one of which is the relationship between Chandler Bing and Monica Gellar. Seeing the two "friends" finally get together was very satisfying for fans, but it is even more satisfying to know that the real actors behind the characters have remained great friends.
Matthew Perry and Courteney Cox are still incredibly close despite not being in front of the camera every day, and it continues to delight fans. While all of the Friends cast are linked forever, these two have maintained a special relationship. But the real question is, just how close are they?
Grab your unagi and a giant coffee cup, sit back in the apartment and find out:
13 New Relationship Rumors
The biggest news story from the Friends universe right now is the gossip surrounding a potential real-life relationship between Monica and Chandler. Fan communities have long since shipped them as one of the show's most popular couples, so to be hearing rumors of them getting together in real-life made fan's heads explode. While these are still only unsubstantiated rumors, it hasn't stopped the speculation.
12 She Called Him Once She Was Single
Following Cox ending her relationship with Snow Patrol's Johnny David, there was one person she reached out to first - Mr. Chandler Muriel Bing. After being so close for ten years while filming Friends, he was the first person she reached out to when she was feeling vulnerable. Sources say that the closeness of their friendship made him the ideal person to call, but who knows what they really talked about now that Courteney is single.
11 He Has Always Loved Her
According to US Magazine, Matthew Perry has "always been in love" with Courteney Cox, and not just in a Chandler and Monica type of way. While a quote like that could be a platonic type of love, it would be understandable if his feelings were more than friendship. They two actors have worked closely together multiple times, and created a fantastical love story for many years on a beloved show - that couldn't happen if there wasn't an actual spark between them.
10 Cougar Town Guest Appearance
Despite Cougar Town ended its six-season run in 2015, it has still garnered some big support from its loyal fans. Unfortunately, the show did suffer from rating declines through its run, and the showrunners did their best to keep it afloat. Part of that was bringing in guest stars, including Friends alumni like Lisa Kudrow and Matthew Perry.
While Perry was only on the show for one episode, it was a highly marketed appearance of their reunion as a couple. For Perry to take time to join Cox's fledgling show proves one thing - there is nothing he wouldn't do for her.
9 Their Other Relationships Have Never Worked Out
Despite playing an incredibly successful couple on television, both Cox and Perry have been unable to find the steadiest relationships off the screen. Perry has never been married despite having a slew of high-profile relationships with celebrities like Julia Roberts and Yasmine Bleeth. Cox had a long-term marriage to David Arquette and carried on other relationships before and after, however, cannot seem to find one which will last forever. Perhaps she is waiting for both her and Perry to be available?
8 Social Media Flirting
While they may not be together on set any day anymore, that hasn't stopped Chandler and Monica to flirt in the new age of social media. During the COVID-19 quarantine, many stars are still reaching out to their fans through TikTok, including showing off their terrible dance moves. When Courteney Cox decided to show off her own dance moves, Perry was quick to respond with ribbing her on just how terrible they were.
7 She Stood By Him In Rehab
Matthew Perry has been very open about his battle with substance abuse throughout his life, including during his time on Friends. By Perry's own admission, his abuse became so bad that he "doesn't remember" three years of his time while on Friends.
Thankfully, he was able to overcome his inner demons and get the help he needed by checking in to rehab. While this must have been difficult for him, he really did have his "friends" there with him, including Courteney who stood by him the entire time until he was strong enough to leave.
6 Perry Hoped For A Real Relationship
While both have tried to have relationships apart, there have always been rumors about how Perry held his true feelings for Cox outside of the show. The two have remained incredibly close since their landmark show ended, and those rumors about Perry still holding those feelings have never been extinguished. The couple has maintained such a close friendship following the show, so if Perry really did have feelings back then, it would have been almost impossible for those feelings to dissipate.
5 Rumors Of Previous Hook Ups
While fans got to experience Chandler and Monica as a married couple for multiple seasons of Friends, it has never become reality. However, the rumor mill has always been rampant that they have hooked up behind the scenes. What happens in Hollywood, stays in Hollywood so fans will likely never figure out for sure if it ever really transpired.
4 Lunch Dates
If everyone looked at their relationships the way Matthew Perry looks at Courteney Cox, the world would be a better place. When the paparazzi captured these two out to lunch together on Hollywood Boulevard, Friends fans united at the prospect of the two of them getting together. However, this picture was taken while Cox was with her former flame Johnny McQuaid, and Perry was with Lizzy Caplan, so it was just a platonic get together.
3 Go On Guest Appearance
Just like how Matthew took a guest-starring role on Cougar Town, Cox took a page out of his book and had made an appearance on one of his ill-fated shows. Unfortunately, Perry has a history of joining shows with rarely make it off the ground and are cancelled quickly.
However, in an attempt to keep Go On continuing past one season, they contacted one of Perry's most famous co-stars to bring fans in. Unfortunately, it did not work and the show was cancelled anyway, but at least fans got to seem them on screen together once again.
2 She Is Always Looking Out For Him
When a candid photo of Matthew Perry emerged looking very disheveled, fans were quick to jump out and claim that he was back into substance abuse again. However, Cox was even quicker to jump to his side and aid. She wound up posting a picture on Instagram of the two of them together to prove that he was in good shape, just to stop the negative vibes coming his way. Only a true friend would do that for him, and that is exactly what Cox is.
1 Future Friends Reunion
While COVID-19 has certainly thrown some monkey wrenches into filming television content, the long-planned Friends reunion is still on the books. Following HBO's purchase of the Friends library, they announced that they would bring back all of the favorite characters together for one final hurrah. Fans have been waiting for this since the show played their last episode, including seeing Mr. and Mrs. Chandler Bing together again.