Perry said he struggled with loneliness, self-doubt and is proof that addiction can enter any home and any life. Stream the full ABC News special ‘Matthew Perry: The Diane Sawyer Interview’ on hulu: abcn.ws/3hjm5YZ
That's where the hurt comes from - irresponsible parents who have children as accessories to a costume: because they make them look good. When in fact the child (and then the adult) carries over feelings of being used, irrelevant, and disposable. So the adult engages in more and more risky behaviour either as self-punishment or to prove otherwise, but it's like running a marathon with a broken ankle.
@@myparadiseingthat’s a dumb comment to make. Do you expect a couple to stay together when they no longer can. Both my parents fought so damn much that they were better off divorcing. Life for us was better once they were divorced and we didn’t have to deal with them fighting. They actually got along better while divorced. I think it’s stupid for parents to stay together because they think the children would be better off….in the end they are not. Someone once said that it’s better to come from a Brocken home then to live in one.
@@abigailsanchez7722I think you may have misread it. The comment goes to show that a child is hurt by their parents, leading to a life of consequences due to neglect and shame. Calling someone dumb immediately makes me really sad for you, and I hope you get the healing you need. Condemning others due to your own experience without knowing theirs is about the most ignorant and 2023 thing to do. Feel better, and remember you’ve survived a lot… don’t allow yourself to become someone others need to heal from♥️
@@abigailsanchez7722 even when divorced parents as individuals can decide as adults to "be" there for their children. From what I read both his parents were self-absorbed (maybe even self-obsessed with fame ). It must be very painful to watch both of them starting new families while at the same time you are "overlooked" with your sickness and personal issues. Not being able to start a family and being a father yourself. I can testify to that. Pic of him and his half sis or bro playing on his back while he could be such a sweet father himself leaves to me a very sad and painful impression of how unhappy he must have felt at times. I find this very touching to the core of how isolated and alone addicts and others with mental/physical issues without help and recognition must feel at times so they will look for "solutions" to numb these feelings. Such a sad sad world at times.
He was funny. A real comedian, but let himself get caught up in the "starsystem" where too much money, open doors to everything simply because of his personal fortune played their tricks on him albeit his personal issues as a child. Amazing to think that a bottle of wine (being drunk) would make him feel well !!! As a teenager I puked up as soon as I had drank ONE glass a bit too fast .... My body just doesn't like alcohol. Which has kept me away from that. Drugs: same thing. Like most teenagers I've tried, but both times I was in for 10 days of acute being sick like a dog. My body refusing it again. I do (and did) a lot of sports back then and now. Maybe ....... ????? Pity to see how he ended up, but some of the pictures when the whole cast got together ten years later but also during the two last seasons, he really looks like he's somewhere else and doesn't are anymore - already ! So he at least "survived" some 20 years or so after that show.
As a Canadian who also drank copious amounts of Baby Duck wine and am currently living in recovery, Matthew's story is so real. Forever grateful he told his story. He will forever be remembered. RIP, Matthew.
I think he's seeking yet more money, or fame over it. There's already a ton of content out there of people confessing their struggles. In recent years there's the movie Beautiful Boy and the book that it's based on. People are already "aware".
@@bingonamo7520yes, im gonna tell my fans that i went to open houses to steal medications. That will surely help me get work. The guy made 1 m $ for episode at one point.
@@bingonamo7520 He definitely doesn't come across as someone driven by a desire for wealth (have you read the book?). He is genuine in his wish to find meaning (when he realized that fame wasn't it). Sharing his experience in the hope of helping even just one person is his contribution to the world. Ultimately, it's what we all want to achieve on this planet - bring value to others. Wishing for mere financial gain is so painfully basic, especially for someone like him.
0:59 - the confirmation that it was David who told them to stick together. I knew David was always a lovely person but it's great to hear it directly from the source. David didn't want to have the highest salary because he knew the success of the show is all of them together. And it was back in the 90s when especially lead male actors very rarely recognized that women co-stars should earn the same money. David is admirable and a true friend.
That's the one thing I loved about "Friends" cast. Even though I wasn't a huge fan, I loved the sense of family and equality with the cast. It was truly a one for all and all for one mentality. They were all the stars, if one person left, that was the end of the show. They all made the same money. I've never seen a show (except maybe The Big Bang Theory) where the cast was this close and everyone was equal. GOD bless.
@@yankeegirl3380 The Big Bang Theory cast took a pay cut so that their pay was equal to Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch. Kaley Cuoco took the initiative and then the rest of the cast followed suit without thinking twice about it.
3:48 “this must be what normal people feel like all the time” that’s the exact same thought and experience I had with alcohol when I started drinking as a teenager…6 years sober and years of therapy and never looked back 💜
I’ve been sober from opiate pain meds for 17 years now. Thank God for Buprenorphine combined with a great Psychiatrist trained in addiction. Had a complete knee replacement in June of this year and had to take Opiates and weened off easily and had a great physical recovery with no fear or temptation. It’s a blessing for sure! So proud of you Nina.
It is important for people to talk about addiction and raise awareness. Matthew Perry's story is real and I am glad he shared it. Rest in Peace, Matthew. You will always be remembered.
The way they all stuck with him, amazing. I’m a former addict, well, recovering addict. Watching him tell this makes me tear up.😢 I know exactly what he’s talking about. Addiction can happen to anyone.
It sure can and it can be a lonely path...and I wish him all the very best, but stay sober 20 plus years before you think about having kids and even then there is no guarantee. In 20 years my friend you might not want to be thinking about fathering a child. Having children is great, but it isn't the summit". Always take care of you first as an alcoholic. Don't bring others in to this. Perhaps harsh, but rings true...if you wanted kids, maybe you might have wanted to put sobriety first decades ago.
@@currybase Hi, recovering addict here as well. My dad was an alcoholic and my half sister (we have the same dad) has also dealt with addiction. Addiction/Addictive personalities runs in my family. I've never been into drinking; a specific muscle relaxer was my drug of choice, but nearly 10 years ago I was prescribed the fentanyl patches for my chronic back pain and while I never abused them, opioids do change your brain chemistry and can make people more sensitive to pain when they've been taking opioids for a long period of time. I went through a lot withdrawals throughout the time I was on the fentanyl patches. Opioid withdrawals are some of the hardest to deal with because you're just puking all the time and you can't stop moving your legs because they hurt so much. I started slowly weaning myself off the fentanyl patches around late 2018 and by summer of 2019 I was completely off the opioids. I never wanted to have kids and with addiction running in my family, I would never want to subject another human being to a potential relapse. Being a parent is a tough job and it's a job I am not up for. I like kids, but I definitely don't want my own, ever. It's the responsible thing to do.
Please know that people love you. I lost my husband to alcoholism. His death was devastating to many people. He was bright, funny, generous, and kind. It seems that addiction affects the best.
“this must be what normal people feel” as a recovered addict that resonates so much. i think so much loneliness and pain is what leads to taking a drug or drink that makes you feel like “everyone else”. it was the same exact thing with me. i hated myself but this stimulant made me feel unstoppable
except there is no "normal" people, who feel happy all the time. That is the dangerous perception part of what leads people to think they are just "defective" with nothing to be done but self medicate.
Very sad he was dealing with mental illness and what sounds like anxiety and the alcohol calmed it down while he was in a drunk state it’s very sad. He was self medicating in his own way. I’m glad we know about mental illness more nowadays and can watch out for things like this.
Top bloke. Sometimes when people talk about these subjects, they can come across as smitten or snobby, but you can tell he's a genuine person. RIP mate.
RIP Matthew! He will never understand his major influence in my families lives of jokes and laughter, and endurance through personal darkness that goes along with addiction. Much respect!
I was so sad to hear he had passed away. That hit hard. He and I are the same age. I loved watching Friends, and he was my favorite on the show. He could be so funny and make people laugh, and he was suffering inside. I hope he is completely at peace and joy now. RIP.
Rewatching this after learning that he's gone. We never truly know someone's struggle but Matthew decided to share his in his book. His pain was indescribable but I hope he can rest now. I'm speechless and so sad for his suffering when he brought so much laughter and light to other people. He reached true enlightenment and self-awareness here and I'm glad of that. He came full circle but I'm also dismayed that his story ended like this. He truly made it his mission to understand his disease and the affliction he was so tortured by.
I think he said he had some dental issues as a result of his addiction. He was always so terribly funny. He had such great comedic timing. I take pain meds for trigeminal neuralgia and other nerve pain. It only helps a bit but I'm always aware how careful I have to be with it. I truly wish him the best.
Sad. RIP 🪦. I remember watching this last year, and even though he was “healthy” - I could tell he just wasn’t right, or would never be right again. It really is sad… despite having it all, he struggled for so long.
EVERYONE CAN GET rid of that lonely feeling, by filling that empty space in your heart with the Holy Spirit, surrender everything to Jesus he loves you he will never leave you or forsake you ❤️, THANK YOU JESUS FOR SAVING ME FROM MYSELF 🙏🙏🙌🙌💝
I always loved matthew perry and the joy and comfort that his character chandler brings, he is so incredibly strong. sending him nothing but love and light
Very powerful testimony. This is his biggest and best job. To help others with the same issues. Brave guy for opening up. I don’t care what anyone says, he is still very handsome and attractive even after all those years of alcohol and pills.
Hi Matthew. I wanted to tell you that my only relief from depression and anxiety is when I watched you in friends. I wish you peace of mind and internal joy . God bless you
This is a heartbreaking story. I was under the impression Perry had been clean and sober for many years, so I was shocked to learn of his most recent relapse and serious set-back from recovery (which has severely impacted his health). I'm no expert, but opiates and meth seem to be extremely dangerous, powerful narcotics that alter a person's brain and body chemistry - making it excessively difficult to remain clean and sober. In contrast, many people will typically tire of the insidious, insane nature of cocaine, and quit the drug after several years. This does not seem to be the case with opiates (whether pills or heroin), as well as meth - as people who desperately want to quit seem incapable of doing so. My heart and prayers go out to Perry and all of those families suffering from this horrible affliction.
It must have been a very weird feeling to have your mother and father on different sides of the country, both with new families, and you are kind of a stepchild to both new families. I hope he stays well.
Much better than have both parents living in the same house and fighting every day and living a miserable life right in front of you ! When you was a little child my biggest dream was having my parents living in separated houses , very far apart !!!!!!!!
@@bellabriggs1393He was a baby when they separated so he has no reference to say “Actually, they are better off divorcing.” For him, he was just lonely in the middle of two families. I’m not blaming his parents though. We all have different ways of perceiving things and dealing with sorrow.
It wasn't a dumb prayer. And his prayer was answered. He was famous and deserving. Sorry his story ended like this. I hope he didn't suffer too long. He gave us so many laughs.
Unanswerable questions? I heard an answer in the first 3.5 minutes! Divorce leaves marks well into adulthood though no one likes to say it. May this man be blessed and find peace in his heart.❤
Staying together in an unstable relationship is also damaging. Unfortunately it’s a lose lose situation. Even though it sounds like his parents did try to make him feel loved he felt displaced unfortunately.
Drinking “Baby Duck” wine as a teen in Ottawa was absolutely a rite of passage in the ‘80’s. I’ve always loved Matthew and I wish him much happiness and good health.
The whole cast has a special place in my heart during the most stable time of childhood was when this show aired and I have a connection with the show amd how life was during the time I kinda hard to explain but when I watch friends I go right back to those good years with the family before everyone died
Friends helped me heal from my break up with my abusive narcissistic ex. I had horrible anxiety afterwards Like to the point of almost staying in the home 24/7 for a few months . Friends helped me forget and laugh Rip Matthew Perry
God did answer his prayer after all. Here is hoping now his prayer for helping people will now come true. Bless you Matthew. You will be more remembered for your honesty than your comedy. Sweet man.
RIP Matthew Perry/Chandler. I really loved that character that you played on Friends. You were magical and magnificent. Rest easy dear friend…..you truly will be missed 😞
Holes have to be healed from the inside out...And it takes courage, strength, determination, the self love (that you probably don't have enough of,) and the willingness to ask God for help and truly mean it. It can take many tries to beat a habit. Any addicted personality knows this. So then, this is when being stubborn...and on your own side.. becomes awesome.
Wrong. Being this vulnerable is private is the path to healing, being this vulnerable for a press tour will only leave him feeling more empty when he goes home, these people do not care about him, they are capitalising on his pain and fetishising trauma for profit.
🕯❤🌹🙏🕊 💫: We All Will Always Remember You With So Much Love Our Dearest Matthew Langford Perry & You Will 'Live On' In Our Hearts ForEver #MatthewPerry #Matty #MostFavoriteFriend #Iconic #Legendary
Inspiring? really. He doesn't even sound sober now. Maybe brain damage from drinking. Think about those who have gotten sober and stayed sober....who is he "helping?" other whiners?
@@currybase beats me. I think his slurred speech is probably due to years of drug and alcohol abuse. Plus, he’s had a lot of dental surgery. Or maybe you’re right; he may be high off his ass. But because he says he’s sober, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.
@@slaws2279 Drug for sure can slur speech.Just listen to a friends sister talking and slur mid afternoon about 50 years old.Smoking dope and maybe more.
@@DeeDiamond2981 Yes he does- if Matthew is going to get ahead of his alcoholism, he might consider stop making excuses as to why many thought he was out of it, as in dental surgery. Just cancel the reunion MP or have rescheduled either or both.
First it was Anthony Kiedis' book, then Steve-O's, now I'm reading Matthew Perry's sobriety memoir. These books help me so much because if they (with their money, fame and connections) can do it so can I
fast forward to 2023, me just watching clips about Matthew Perry, I got chills when this interview was exactly one year. R.I.P, Mattman. You will be definitely gonna missed.
"This must be what normal people feel like" --- there are no normal people, well not anymore. Maybe back then there were. Matt shouldn't have been so hard on himself, because he was a joy to watch. I hope he has won the battles with his addictions finally ❤
Mathew Perry was my favourite in friends. I wish him all the best, support, love and prays to him. Seeing his weight changing there was something going off but would of never thought of this. But once again I'm wishing him all the best, support, love and prays 💜
I loved Chandler the most of all the "Friends" characters, then Ross was my next favorite. Addiction is an epidemic in this country, claiming young and old, rich and poor. I'm glad to see Matthew opening up about his life and his addiction. Power to you, man. Keep going.
Michael Tamares, I do not actually *know* the real person. I appreciated Matthew's work on the show, but I recognize and acknowledge that the character and the actor are not the same. Actors, especially TV actors who are in peoples' livingrooms every week, tire of fans acting like they know them because they love the characters they portray. I don't actually know Matthew Perry. I love him as a fellow human being and wish him the best in his continuing journey.
He had horrible parents. That’s where his addiction stemmed from. Searching for their love through drugs and alcohol. Heartbreaking. They should be ashamed.
That man is braver than I, has more courage than I and my heart goes out to him and his message for all of us addicts/alcoholics. Maybe even more so for an understanding that “normies” might gain about the way our minds and bodies operate in addiction and those with people like us in their lives to know how they can be a support system if willing because it’s not an easy road for either party to go down. Much Respect Matthew Perry.
Even if you weren’t the biggest Friends fan, the terribly sad passing of Matthew Perry is a reminder that those who try and make you laugh the hardest often hardly laugh when they are with themselves. It’s probably good to check on them as regularly as we do others
I remember my first drink ever. I was diagnosed with depression when I was 13 and was taking medication that would takes months to even do anything. I was drinking in field with friends when I was 15, I went for a piss and started feeling drunk. I just remember thinking I can't believe this actually exists, that I could take something and not feel depressed or anxious and just felt amazing. The love I felt for drugs or alcohol at the time felt like this new great revelution. I felt a red flag straight away just by how I felt about it compared to my other friends drinking at that time. I saw it for much more than how others felt about it clearly. I always think of the Simpsons quote "Too Alcohol, the cause of and solution to, all of life's problems". That's how I feel even though I know the solution part is equally as bad.
He was my favorite in Friends. I m sorry for his struggles with drugs and alchohol, I hope he makes it. Cudos to him for telling his story, he will help a lot of people with his story.
You need to be number one for at least one of your parents. I will never believe that once strangers and "other" siblings come into picture, you could ever share the same bond
So well said. I totally agree. Some maybe survive but may not have deep clinical depression or have another person in their life to fill that emptiness.
Which is why some parents do wait to seek remarriage until the children are older. The say it is better for the kids. But life happens. Maybe if at least he had had another natural sibling. And he Never even remembered his parents as a couple.
If you're in need of some emotional catharsis/a good cry from time to time, watch Go On. He was amazing in it and it's one of the shows that immediately comes to mind when I think "TV that made me cry a bit." I miss you Matt. RIP in peace.
Very sad sad news today 😢....What a man....a Wonderful man.....a Funny man....a beautiful man....a honest man....taken far to soon.....rest well Mat and fill heaven with your brilliant laugher ❤
The witty funny people turns out had lots struggles in life …chandler’s lines cracks me up in many lonely nights , sad to say goodbye .you will be missed forever.
The very beginning of his life is incredibly sad. Both his parents moved on from his family, lived on opposite coasts and had families of their own. That had to create an intense feeling of abandonment and not belonging. I’m of similar circumstances and there’s always a lingering sense of loss of what your parents promised you, but moved on to chase their own happiness.
EXACTLY! Like this is described as happy families getting bigger, but he's in between and lost and deeply lonely, not even siblings from the same parents to relate to. The half siblings are from one other new parent.
Meh, 50% of marriages fail and this happens to everyone. But you don't become a drug addict over it. It seems to me he had slight depression and instead of going to his GP for help, he used alcohol. It wasn't his mild life circumstances that caused that, it was his decision making.
@@MrMatthew262 If you see divorce as "life trauma", that's pretty over the top. It's not like he was abused FFS. Honestly, Americans can be overly dramatic. And you people believe all the crap that comes out of Megan Markle's mouth as well and feel sorry for her. Gee, these poor multi millionaires..........what a hard life.
Baby Duck - a reference many Canadians who came of age in the 1970s can remember. Our knowledge about the dangers of alcoholism & addiction was so limited.
After reading the book, I just can’t understand how he made it through. There is no way a person could be alive after having taken all that amount of alcohol, drugs and pills
But why is he sharing his struggles? Doesn't he already have a fortune? I'm not buying into this "raising awareness" nonsense as there's already a ton of content out there from other celebrities and in recent years, movies like Beautiful Boy and the book that it's based on, etc. It appears to me he's selling the book as he either wants the money, or the attention.
3:48 this is so haunting to me. I recently started using pills to improve my concentration and not be tired at school and my two jobs and this is exactly how I felt when I tried my first pill “this must be the way normal people feel all the time”.
I dealt with addiction second-hand 4 times in my life thru my mother, 2 boyfriends and a husband. One thing I gathered from those experiences are empathy and recognizing signs. I commend Matthew Perry for being vulnerable enough to share his experiences and actually being able to tell about it. I hope he's able to completely let this hold go and remembers his blessings always.
Very good interview with Matt and now I'm gonna grab his book because for him to open himself up and admit to everyone everything he's ever done. I believe his story is even more poienyant and I really hope that someone out there will now hear or read his story and be reminded they're not alone and help them to continue to move forward and to keep fighting to be "normal" , but who's to say what normal is anyway right ?. Thank you for sharing your life with us. RIP
I'm a fan of Mathew Perry ,I loved him on Fools Rush In the movie,and friends ,and I'm also a recovering alcoholic 32 yrs sober ,and I to had a empty hole in my heart ,I could be in a room full of people and I still felt lonely,But that all changed when I surenderd my life To Jesus Christ,he is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ saved me from myself, and I thank him every day,I was asked why didn't you surender before and I said I was ashamed why would he help a loser like me ,JESUS IS LOVE HE LOVES US ALL,AND HES THERE JUST WAITING FOR YOU TO SURENDER ,JESUS IS FIRST IN MY LIFE 🙏🙏🙌🙌💝💝 Thank you Jesus 😊 ❤️
