The medical reason Matthew Perry's speech was slurred in the Friends reunion
Sure, we can go to pubs now and stuff, but there's only one set of plans we'll be sticking to tonight, and that's watching Friends: The Reunion (it's available to watch right now on Sky and NOW in the UK & Ireland, and will also being show on Sky One this evening at 8pm, if you're interested). All six of the iconic show's lead cast members - Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc - feature in the reunion show, but fans have expressed concern about one star in particular.
After the full-length trailer of the reunion was released last week, viewers noticed that Matthew Perry - who played Chandler Bing in the hit show - appeared to have slurred speech. In one part of the trailer, he can be heard saying, "I stole the cookie jar that had the clock on it," with some people suggesting the word "stole" had a "sh" sound to it.
Comments from fans about being "worried" for him began to surface online as a result, with the context of Matthew's past issues with addiction. However, an insider has explained why Perry's words may have come across a little slurred.
Speaking to The Sun, the source said: "Matthew turned up at the reunion and members of his team said he had an emergency tooth procedure that day. This was said to impact his wellbeing and also how he was feeling.
Apparently the dental surgery left the actor "in pain," which caused the slurred speech. "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 reacted online," continued the insider. "Matthew has told those around him that he is sober, and there is no need to worry," they added.
Matthew Perry has had ups and downs in his battle with addiction, and previously admitted to not remembering filming several seasons. "I don’t remember three years of it," he told BBC Radio 2 in 2016. "Somewhere between season 3 and 6 … I was a little out of it."
Speaking earlier about his health issues to Oprah Winfrey in 2003, the actor said: "What saved me was finally getting a little bit of clarity in my life and realising that this was it. If I keep living my life this way, there isn't going to be any life.
"You realise you need help, so you finally ask for it," he added.
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