Los Angeles, CA – November 29, 2023 – Jennifer Aniston has revealed intimate details about her final interactions with the late Matthew Perry, offering a poignant counter-narrative to the public perception of his ongoing struggles with addiction. In a new cover story with Vanity Fair, Aniston described Perry as “happy” and “healthy” in the days leading up to his October 28th death at his Los Angeles home.

aniston shared that she had texted Perry on the day of his passing, and that he had recently quit smoking, was exercising, and appeared to be thriving. She acknowledged the long-term pain caused by Perry’s addiction, stating, “It almost felt like we’d been mourning Matthew for a long time as his battle with that disease was a really hard one for him to fight. As hard as it was for all of us and for the fans, there’s a part of me that thinks this is better. I’m glad he’s out of that pain.” Perry’s battle with substance abuse spanned decades, including multiple stints in rehab facilities like Hazelden Betty Ford Centers.

Following Perry’s death at age 54, Aniston publicly honored him by sharing a text message he sent her, featuring a photo of them laughing together on the “Friends” set. The message read: “Making you laugh just made my day. It made my day.” This exchange highlights Perry’s well-known dedication to comedy and his reliance on audience reaction for emotional wellbeing.

In a statement released on social media, aniston described Perry as integral to the “Friends” dynamic, emphasizing the close bond between the six cast members – Aniston, Courteney Cox, lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer. “He was such a part of our DNA.We were always the 6 of us. This was a chosen family that forever changed the course of who we were and what our path was going to be,” she wrote.She further explained that Perry’s drive to elicit laughter was essential to his survival, stating, “His life literally depended on it. And boy did he succeed in doing just that. He made all of us laugh. And laugh hard.”

Aniston reiterated to Variety that Perry was in a positive state of mind before his death. “He was happy. He was healthy. He had quit smoking. He was getting in shape. He was happy – that’s all I know… He was not in pain. He wasn’t struggling. He was happy.” She emphasized his commitment to recovery, stating, “I want people to know he was really healthy, and getting healthy. He was on a pursuit. He worked so hard.”

Aniston concluded by expressing her deep loss and that of her co-stars, saying, “He really was dealt a tough one. I miss him dearly. we all do. Boy,he made us laugh really hard.” The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has deferred a final cause of death pending toxicology reports, which are expected to take several weeks.

Read the full interview with Jennifer Aniston in vanity Fair: