FRIENDS NO MORE!
TV’S TIGHT-KNIT CO-STARS ARE NERVOUS FOR WHAT’S TO COME
Everyone’s favourite Friends star Matthew Perry has signed a whopping sevenfigure deal to publish his memoir, and sources spill to New Idea that he’s vowed to tell it “warts and all”.
From the hottest parties in the ’90s to disastrous romances with the likes of Julia Roberts, and Meg Ryan, Matthew, who famously played Chandler Bing in the hit sitcom, is preparing to tell the heartbreaking story of his “accidental” drug and booze addiction that he still battles to this day.
“There has been so much written about me by others in the past,” the 52-year-old recently said upon announcing his anticipated tome. “I thought it was time people heard it directly from the horse’s mouth. In this case, the horse’s mouth being me.”
The book is not scheduled for release until next year, giving Matthew plenty of time to fine-tune his words.
While fans are no doubt excited by Matt’s venture, insiders reveal there is concern between the Friends cast that he will perhaps overshare.
Particularly worried are Matthew’s close friends and co-stars, Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox, who insiders say are panicking that he will divulge secrets about their lives
‘HE WON’T BE HOLDING BACK … HE KNOWS EVERYONE’S SECRETS’
together during their heyday as young stars and could cause a fracture between the group.
“He won’t be holding back,” confirms a long-time pal. “He might not remember three years on that show, but he knows everyone’s secrets and who really did get to kiss Jennifer Aniston in the dressing room,” the source quips.
Most interestingly, there’s already whispers in Tinseltown that Matthew is going to spill the beans on his feud with co-star Matt Leblanc, who played Joey Tribbiani, and how the seemingly close co-star’s friendship soured.
“Then there was the time he wanted to ‘punch Brad Pitt’s pretty face’ for hurting Jen,”
tells the source, who says Matthew knows more about Jen’s love life than most realise.
However, the bombshell book won’t all be just gossip and giggles, as Matthew’s ready to tell the dark story of his ongoing battle with sobriety.
Matthew’s battle began in 1997 after he was prescribed pain medication following a jetski accident. “I felt better than I ever felt in my entire life,” he recalled of what was to become a 20- to 30-a-day habit. “I had a big problem with pills and alcohol, and I couldn’t stop.”
In the same year, Matthew went to rehab for the first time, but a year later he infamously crashed his Porsche into a residential house in Hollywood Hills, LA.
In 2000 he was hospitalised for pancreatitis from alcohol abuse. “Unfortunately, that still wasn’t enough to get me to quit drinking,” he admitted.
However, a year later he was back in rehab and so far he’s kept on track, thanks to regular “maintenance” stints.
“All things considered, he is lucky to be alive,” the friend continues, adding, “He knows his story can help others, and a memoir is a way of bringing humour into something very serious and potentially saving lives for those who have gone through a similar situation.”