Matthew Perry, known for his role as Chandler Bing in the popular TV show “Friends,” has distanced himself from the series that made him famous. The reason for this decision is quite sad and comes with a heartfelt story.

“Friends” is a show many people love, with its main characters and memorable moments. One of these characters is Chandler Bing, played by Matthew Perry. Even though this role was a defining part of his career, the reality behind the scenes wasn’t as joyful as it seemed. Perry struggled privately with alcohol and substance problems during much of the time the show was being made.

Lisa Kudrow, who was also part of the show, spoke about Perry’s difficult experience in an interview with The New York Times in 2002. She explained that the word “difficult” doesn’t even capture the challenges he faced. Perry’s struggles affected the whole cast, leaving them feeling powerless to help him. Kudrow described Perry as a funny and charming person who brought a lot of laughter to the set.

Matt LeBlanc, another co-star from “Friends,” talked to People magazine in 2002 about Perry’s struggles while they were filming the show. Despite LeBlanc’s attempts to reach out to Perry, it was clear that Perry was dealing with his own personal battles and needed to confront his problems on his own terms.

In recent times, Perry shared the reasons behind his decision to distance himself from his Chandler role. During an interview with CBS, he revealed that watching the show would trigger memories of his struggles with alcohol and drugs. These memories were tied to words like “alcohol, opiates, booze, c*caine,” which overshadowed his enjoyment of the show.

Perry even recounted moments when he was physically affected by his substance abuse, causing him to shake uncontrollably and struggle to stay steady.

Perry admitted that his issues with alcoholism had already begun when he got the role on “Friends.” As the show went on, his addiction escalated, leading to a serious crisis in 2018. He publicly mentioned a gastrointestinal problem, but the truth was that his colon had burst due to his opioid use. This resulted in a long and difficult hospitalization period, including a two-week coma.