Friends fans want a scene to be removed from the TV sitcom following Matthew Perry’s tragic death.
Perry played Chandler Bing in the hugely popular comedy series, appearing in all 236 episodes.
He was cast in the role when he was 24 and soon became a fan-favorite character – with viewers loving his sarcastic humor and his relationship with Courteney Cox’s character Monica.
Tragically, news broke that Perry died aged 54 on October 28, 2023. He was reportedly found unresponsive in his jacuzzi at his Los Angeles home.
And following his passing, Friends fans are demanding one eerie scene be removed from the show.
TMZ reported that first responders were called to Perry’s house after he reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest.
NBC added that the case was being treated as a ‘death investigation with no signs of foul play’.
Soon after, his official cause of death was confirmed.
The autopsy report, obtained by People magazine, revealed that Perry died due to the acute effects of ketamine, with drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine listed as contributing factors to his death, which was ruled an accident.
Ketamine is a medication doctors use as an anesthetic to induce loss of consciousness, reports Medical News Today. People sometimes use it for its ‘hallucinogenic properties’.
Perry was reportedly receiving ketamine infusion therapy, an experimental treatment used to manage various mental health conditions like treatment-resistant depression and anxiety disorders, according to the Pacific Neuroscience Institute.
Despite this, the medical examiner indicated that Perry’s last treatment occurred about a week and a half before his death, which doesn’t explain the elevated levels of ketamine found in his system.
The autopsy revealed that at the time of his death, Perry’s ketamine levels were comparable to those seen in general anesthesia.
In his memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,” published a year before his death, Perry openly discussed his battles with alcohol and drug addiction. He shared with The New York Times that he had spent approximately $9 million in his quest for sobriety.
Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman mentioned in an interview with Today that she had spoken with Perry two weeks before his death and noted that he was sober and in a very good place.
A criminal investigation has since been initiated into Perry’s death.
According to TMZ, law enforcement sources indicate that an ongoing investigation is examining how Perry acquired the ketamine that contributed to his death. This raises questions about the supplier and the circumstances under which the drug was obtained.
Both local police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have reportedly been involved in this investigation for several months, though the precise progress remains unknown.
Investigators have reportedly interviewed ‘some key people in Hollywood’ known for their history of drug use or abuse. While these individuals may not have supplied the ketamine, they could provide information leading to the source.
Following the actor’s passing, many celebrities publicly paid tribute to Perry, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was friends with him at school.
He wrote: “Matthew Perry’s passing is shocking and saddening. I’ll never forget the schoolyard games we used to play, and I know people around the world are never going to forget the joy he brought them.”
Maggie Wheeler – who played Chandler’s on/off girlfriend Janice Litman-Goralnik on Friends – shared a photo of the pair of them on social media and said: “What a loss. The world will miss you, Matthew Perry.
“The joy you brought to so many in your too-short lifetime will live on. I feel so very blessed by every creative moment we shared.”
And following the heartbreaking news, fans have been sharing their favorite moments of Perry in Friends and it’s led to one particular scene resurfacing that some viewers now want to be removed.
The scene in question – which has been shared on TikTok – shows Monica and Chandler having their photos professionally taken for their wedding announcement.
Fans have commented on the TikTok video to pay tribute to the 17 Again actor, with one writing: “This scene will never be watched in the same way again, at least I can’t.”
Another adds: “I haven’t watched a single episode but this connection is so freaking sad.”
“They are definitely gonna cut this out or never show the episode,” a third fan speculates.
A fourth person asks: “Will they now remove this scene from Netflix?”
“Could this scene BE any more eerie,” another writes. “They gotta take this scene out of the show, man. They pretty much predicted the future,” another fan agrees.
“This scene seems very weird since Matthew Perry did drown,” somebody else comments.
Another adds: “Nah they gotta cut this scene out now.”
While Monica is posing naturally, Chandler is struggling to pull a smile, which leads to his fiancée asking ‘what is the matter’ with his face.
She continues: “Like this picture is supposed to say Gellar and Bing to be married.
“Not local woman saves drowning moron.”
The photographer begins to laugh in agreement with Monica. However, she instantly gets offended.
She then tells the photographer not to laugh at Chandler because he is ‘my drowning moron’, which makes his facial expression soften.
This scene has hit hard with some fans of the show, as Perry’s death involved a water rescue.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at 1-800-662-4357 in the USA.
In the UK, you can contact FRANK at 0300 123 6600 or talktofrank.com for confidential advice and information about drugs, their effects and the law.
