Matthew Perry’s Final Years Were Reportedly Much Darker & Isolated Than We Thought

Content warning: this story contains mentions of physical abuse.

Over the years, and especially since the release of his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Terrible Thing, Matthew Perry had been on a journey of opening up with the world about his struggles with fame and addiction. His untimely death on Oct. 28, however, left fans wondering if he was ever able to overcome his issues and live his life the way he always desired.

According to a new report, the 17 Again star unfortunately struggled with addiction until his death, leaving many of his friends unsurprised when his autopsy determined he died from “acute effects of ketamine.”

“Everybody close to Matthew was saying he died from an overdose,” sources told Us Weekly. “The way he dealt with that was to isolate. Since [Friends ended], he was set financially and didn’t have to work, so it created an environment to use.”

In addition to continuing his drug use, Perry’s behavior towards his friends and family has reportedly also declined in the last few years. “All he knew how to do was cause pain and play the victim,” one insider said, claiming the late actor “was verbally, emotionally and physically abusive.” “He was so warped in his addiction that he wasn’t himself and the man he should be,” they explained.

In one incident in March 2022, Perry allegedly had a misunderstanding with his longtime best friend, Morgan Moses, and got violent with her for the first time. “He threw [Moses] into a wall and threw something at her and shoved her onto a bed,” one source remembered. “This time, he took threats and hints of violence into actual violence.”

The incident then became a low point for Perry. “Morgan was his best friend, and he burned that to the ground,” the source added. “He pushed her to her absolute breaking point.”

“Everyone just wanted him to be OK, and he was awful,” echoed another insider. “He would get pissed off about little things and then flip the narrative about what really happened to make himself the victim. [He would] escalate the situation so he could say, ‘Poor me. I’ve been hurt, and you abandoned me.’ He put people on a ride from hell.”

And, as Perry continued to alienate his closest confidantes, his drug use reportedly continued despite his claims he was sober while promoting his memoir. “He wanted to sell books,” the source said of the lie. “Everything was crafted and manipulated; the truth wasn’t important.” “Apparently, he crashed his Aston Martin many times while high,” one source said of the time, adding that he’d never “consider [that] he could have killed someone.”

“Addicts are smart, and Matthew was brilliant,” the source continued. “He would do the FaceTime thing and get to know [dates]. Then it would be like, ‘Let’s hang out,’ and he would say [to come to his house],” the source remembered. “He wasn’t out in public anymore. That’s how he snuck things past people.”

“He was living locked up and not reaching out to [people],” the insider continued. “That was his pattern when he used. He would cut himself off from everyone.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you can get help by calling the Drug Addiction Hotline at 1-800-662-4357.

Before you go, click here to see celebrities who have struggled with drug or alcohol addiction.