During a recent interview with Hoda Kotb on the "Today" show, "Friends" creator Marta Kauffman expressed her concerns about Matthew Perry's appearance on the HBO Max "Friends" special in 2021. Given Perry's past struggles with addiction, Kauffman was worried about his well-being. She explained, "Yes, I was concerned about him. Knowing that he'd been through everything he'd been through, and every time he had surgery they're giving him opioids for pain, and the cycle starts over again. So, yes, I was concerned about what point in the cycle he was in that moment." Just days before the highly anticipated gathering of the "Friends" cast, Perry underwent emergency dental surgery.

He later spoke about the procedure, saying, "They did all sorts of things... it made my mouth feel like fire." During the two-hour special, fans noticed Perry's slurred speech, leading to speculation about his health.

Perry acknowledged this during an interview with Diane Sawyer, saying, "It sounded like my voice was off." However, he felt it was important to show up for the event and do his best despite the wear and tear on his voice and speech at the time. Perry's years-long battle with addiction has been well-documented, and he opened up about his struggles and sobriety in his memoir, "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing," which was released in 2022. Unfortunately, just days before the one-year anniversary of his memoir, Perry was found dead at his California home. Initial reports indicated that prescription medications were found in his home, but no drugs were found at the scene, and foul play is not suspected.

Kauffman and co-creator David Crane had spoken with Perry just two weeks before his passing and noted that he seemed better than they had seen him in a while. They were thrilled to see him emotionally in a good place, having quit smoking and finding purpose in helping other addicts.

On Monday, Perry's co-stars released a joint statement expressing their devastation over his loss. They emphasized that they were more than just castmates and considered themselves a family. They requested time to grieve and process the loss and promised to share more in the future. Crane echoed their sentiments, highlighting the strong bond among the cast members. He emphasized that the six actors formed a family both on and off-screen and that their priority was always supporting each other, particularly in Matthew Perry's case.