Jennifer Aniston discusses long grief for Matthew Perry

Jennifer Aniston discusses enduring grief over Matthew Perry and his battle with addiction in a new interview.

Jennifer Aniston reveals she mourned Matthew Perry long before his death

Jennifer Aniston told Vanity Fair that she and the cast of Friends tried to help Matthew Perry as his addiction persisted. Perry died in October 2023 at age 54; the Los Angeles coroner ruled the cause of death as acute effects of ketamine. Aniston described the group’s efforts as part of a long, ongoing memory of trying to support him through a brutal illness.

She also spoke of a personal sense of relief that Perry is no longer in pain, while acknowledging the lasting impact of his loss on fans and those who supported him over the years.

The interview shows how addiction can shadow a close circle for years, turning private care into a long endurance test for friends and family. It also highlights the challenge of telling a deeply personal story within a public life without reducing a person to a headline.

It raises questions about how the media handles sensitive topics like addiction and bereavement. The better path focuses on compassion, sustained support, and clear boundaries between reporting and gossip, so both fans and survivors feel respected.

Highlights

Grief and memory travel a long road beyond the obituary.