Matthew Perry Lied About Being Sober, Was 'Warped In His Addiction' Before Death: Report
Matthew Perry allegedly covered up his abuse of prescription drugs and other troubling behavior before his untimely death last year, according to a new report.
While pals such as Jennifer Aniston said Perry was healthy and wasn't struggling before he passed away in October 2023 at age 54, anonymous sources claimed in a new Us Weekly story that the late "Friends" star was dishonest to the public about his sobriety during the promotional tour for his bestselling 2022 memoir, "Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing."
One of the insiders alleged that Perry was "verbally, emotionally and physically abusive" and described him as a "manipulative" individual who caused others pain and played the victim.
A second source, however, told the outlet that Perry was not a "horrible human being" but was "so warped in his addiction that he wasn't himself and the man he should be."
Former representatives for the late actor did not respond to the magazine's requests for comment on the claims. Enstarz could not independently verify the information.
Perry claimed in an October 2022 interview with the New York Times that he had spent an estimated $9 million trying to achieve sobriety. The actor, who battled alcohol and opioid addiction for decades, said he had 15 stints in rehab, more than 25 drug detoxes, and hired a sober companion. Perry said he had been sober for a year and a half by the time he did the interview.
However, the circumstances surrounding Perry's death raised questions.
His autopsy report, released last month, revealed that the actor had died from "acute effects of ketamine."
Perry had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy reportedly for depression and anxiety, with his last known session occurring a week and a half before he was found face down in the hot tub at his California home.
However, the medical examiner indicated that the ketamine in his system was unlikely to have been from his last therapy session, suggesting Perry may have been using the drug recreationally.
The documents stated that Perry had been reportedly clean for 19 months.
One of Us Weekly's sources alleged that Perry's addiction struggles led to him crashing his Aston Martin multiple times while under the influence.
Page Six reported that the Los Angeles Police Department could not confirm if the alleged incidents happened because there was not enough information provided.
The Us Weekly report also delved into how Perry's struggles affected his relationships.
One insider alleged that the actor had a physical confrontation with his close friend and "live-in sober companion," addiction expert Morgan Moses, in March 2022, causing her to cut ties with him. Morgan refused to comment on the claims, according to the outlet.
The source also claimed that Perry's outbursts included punching walls, flipping tables and throwing things.
According to the insider, a former girlfriend, who was not identified, reportedly threatened to sue Perry in 2020 for emotional and psychological abuse, alleging that he got her addicted to drugs.
Before these claims, Aniston said the actor was "healthy" and doing well in the days before his passing.
"He was not in pain. He wasn't struggling. He was happy," Perry's longtime pal and "Friends" co-star told Variety in December.
She added, "I want people to know he was really healthy and getting healthy. He was on a pursuit. He worked so hard."
Model Athenna Crosby, who dined with Perry a day before his death, also told Fox News in November last year that he was sober and in good spirits before his passing.
Recalling their outing, she said, "He was extremely positive, sober, acting normal, spoke very well, did not give me any impression that he was under drugs or alcohol of any kind."
