The heartbreaking reason Matthew Perry says he still can’t watch Friends

Fans of the long-running sitcom Friends have watched the main cast members go through a lot on and off the screen. From high-profile romances and breakups to mental health issues and even substance abuse, living in the spotlight was not always easy for the stars. For Matthew Perry, who played Chandler Bing in the beloved comedy, he’s been very open about his issues with addiction. And in late 2022, he released his highly-anticipated memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, where he opened up on some of the most vulnerable and difficult moments in his life.

Perry was struggling with addiction while filming Friends, and while looking back he says he can tell which substance he was using by his appearance each season. Though he’s grateful for his former co-stars, which include Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer, he also feels bitter about his experience.

While being interviewed by Tom Power on his show Q with Tom Power, according to BuzzFeedNews, Perry explained the resentment he felt toward his Friends castmates, and why he still can’t bring himself to watch the show that made him a household name.

Why it’s so difficult for Matthew Perry to rewatch Friends

According to Perry, it’s been too painful for him to recall some of his darkest days which happened to be while he was starring in one of the biggest sitcoms in history, which is why he still can’t rewatch the show.

“I didn’t watch the show and haven’t watched the show, because I could go, drinking, opiates, drinking, cocaine,” Perry revealed. “I could tell season by season by how I looked. That’s why I don’t want to watch it because that’s what I see.”

However, the 53-year-old noted that he wanted to overcome his fear and watch Friends, and his reasoning is totally sweet:

"“I think I’m gonna start to watch it, because it really has been an incredible thing to watch it touch the hearts of different generations. I’ve been too worried about this, and I wanna watch Friends, too.”"

The good news in all of this? Perry has already started to watch Friends… well, he’s trying to! Also reported by BuzzFeedNews, the actor stopped by the Jennifer Hudson Show more recently and said he still wants to get back into the sitcom, though it’s proving very difficult:

"“I watch it a little bit. I don’t watch it that much because sometimes it’s painful to watch because I was in difficult situations, and sometimes it’s tough to watch for me…But I watch it sometimes, and it’s definitely funny.”"

Matthew Perry seems to be in a much, much better place today and his fans are so happy about that. If you want to rewatch

Friends

just like Perry, you can stream all 10 seasons right now on HBO Max.