Friends fans in tears as official page posts sad tribute to Matthew Perry after arrests
The official page for the beloved TV show Friends posted an emotional tribute to late actor Matthew Perry. Arrests in connection to his death have been made
![Friends fans in tears as official page posts sad tribute to Matthew Perry after arrests](https://europe.easybranches.com/uploads/news/2024/08/6706333.jpg)
Fans of the beloved TV show Friends were left misty-eyed as the show paid tribute to late actor Matthew Perry.
In a touching tribute to over 12.3 million followers on Instagram, the show’s official Instagram page marked what would have been Matthew’s 55th birthday. “On this day, we remember the light that was Matthew Perry,” a caption on the post, which has over 544,000 likes, said.
Tributes flooded in through the comment section of the post, with a number of people saying they will miss Chandler Bing, Matthew’s character on Friends. “We gonna miss him forever and ever,” one person wrote.
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Another, referencing one of Chandler’s catchphrases, said: “Could we miss him more??” Another wrote: “Our dearest Chan Chan Man”. It is the latest public tribute to the Friends funnyman, who was also known for his roles in the films 17 Again, Fools Rush In and The Whole Nine Yards.
![Fans were left emotional over the touching tribute](https://i2-prod.irishmirror.ie/incoming/article33496553.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/2_Screenshot-2024-08-19-at-151505.jpg)
Following his death in October 2023, the show released an Instagram post, which is still the pinned tweet on the account, that read: “We are devastated to learn of Matthew Perry’s passing. He was a true gift to us all. Our heart goes out to his family, loved ones, and all of his fans.”
Matthew’s Friends co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc released a joint statement following his passing last year. They said: “We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family. There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss."
Matthew passed away on October 28 last year due to “acute effects” of the drug Ketamine and prosecutors said he received several injections on the day he died from his live-in personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who found Matthew dead later that day and was the first to talk to investigators. Iwamasa, 59, confessed to frequently injecting the actor with ketamine despite not being medically trained
Jasveen Sangha, 41, nicknamed the 'Ketamine Queen', and Eric Fleming, 54, are accused of providing Matthew with the drug.
!["The One With the Thumb" Episode 3 -- Pictured: (l-r) Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani, Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing](https://i2-prod.irishmirror.ie/incoming/article33496548.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/1_Friends-Season-1.jpg)
![Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing, Courteney Cox as Monica Geller-Bing](https://i2-prod.irishmirror.ie/incoming/article33496554.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/1_Friends.jpg)
Matthew had a long history of battling drug addiction. Five people including his personal assistant and two doctors have been charged in connection with Matthew’s death in what prosecutors alleged was a “broad underground criminal network” dedicated to getting the Friends star the powerful surgical anaesthetic that killed him.
Mark Chavez, 54, and Salvador Plasencia, 42, have been accused of playing roles in the illegal distribution of ketamine. However, TMZ reports that following an investigation by the Medical Board of California, both medics have retained their licences to practise medicine with no imposed limitations. A statement from the board conveyed to the publication confirmed: "Both (their) licences are current and active and the Board has not imposed any restrictions on them."
On the Medical Board of California's website, the doctors licences are displayed free from any warnings or restrictions. Chavez boasts a "renewed and current" licence, expiring on 30 June 2026, while Plasencia's licence holds the same status, set to expire on 31 October.
Recently, on Thursday, the US Department of Justice declared that Plasencia is charged with conspiracy and multiple counts related to the illegal distribution of ketamine, alongside charges for altering federal investigation documents.
In a guilty plea agreement, Chavez admitted to one count of conspiracy to distribute the anaesthetic, verifying he had off-market transactions involving ketamine with Plasencia for Matthew Perry's use. The star is believed to have handed over more than $55,000 in cash to two individuals shortly before his unexpected passing.
US Attorney Martin Estrada condemned the pair last week, saying: "These defendants cared more about profiting off of Mr Perry than caring for his well-being." He added, referring to the actor's ordeal: "Matthew Perry's journey began with unscrupulous doctors who abused their position of trust because they saw him as a payday, to street dealers who gave him ketamine in unmarked vials."
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