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Matthew Perry apologizes for asking why Keanu Reeves 'still walks among us' amid backlash over shocking diss

In a statement, Perry said, 'I'm actually a big fan of Keanu. I just chose a random name, my mistake'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: ​Matthew Perry's new memoir, 'Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,' has already sparked controversy after the book revealed Perry's shocking insults against popular actor Keanu Reeves. The internet was once again divided and now Matthew Perry has found himself coming clean.

In one section of the book, the famous 'Friends' actor, talks about his friendship with the late actor River Phoenix while taking a shocking jab at 'John Wick's actor. "River was a beautiful man, inside and out, too beautiful for this world, it turned out," Perry writes. "It always seems to be the really talented guys who go down. Why is it that the original thinkers like River Phoenix and Heath Ledger die, but Keanu Reeves still walks among us?" Social media was left baffled while wondering whether the two actors shared bad blood.

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River Phoenix and Perry starred together in the 1988 film 'A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon' In 1993, the young actor Phoenix died of a drug overdose at the age of 23. Perry was a drug addict himself and today tells anecdotes about how he became famous with the series 'Friends' and how he struggled with drug addiction. From Vicodin addiction to alcohol abuse, the famous actor has led a life that not many would envy. Nevertheless, the brave actor has managed to come out of it more stronger several times.

Matthew's addiction to Vicodin began with a jet skiing accident in 1997. The drug was prescribed to make him feel better, but unfortunately, the actor soon began to develop a dependence on it. The star's addiction was further fueled by the huge success of 'Friends' and the life it brought. "I was on 'Friends' from age 24 to 34. I was in the white-hot flame of fame," he told People. "It was actually a very lonely time for me because I was suffering from alcoholism."

He added, "It was going on before Friends, but it's a progressive disease. I wasn't a massive party guy. I wasn't a bull-in-a-china-shop kind of drinker." Although Perry does not like to disclose the timeframe of his sobriety, the actor does still count each day. In his upcoming memoir, Perry also talks about the death of Chris Farley while citing Reeves again. "His disease had progressed faster than mine had. (Plus, I had a healthy fear of the word 'heroin,' a fear we did not share)," Perry writes. "I punched a hole through Jennifer Aniston's dressing room wall when I found out. Keanu Reeves walks among us."

The Friends actor has now forward saying, he misspoke and issued an apology. "I'm actually a big fan of Keanu. I just chose a random name, my mistake. I apologize. I should have used my own name instead," Perry told People. Although Perry himself shares a huge fanbase, his statement about Reeves who fans and the Internet adores refused to hear no wrong and soon started to criticize Perry's remarks. A user wrote, "Even after that, I imagine Keanu Reeves just giving Matthew Perry the hug he's clearly missing in life." Another user remarked, "Keanu Reeves: Secretly donates to children’s hospitals, splits his paycheck with underpaid film crew, buys his stuntmen motorcycles, gives up his seat on the subway. Matthew Perry: “This guy needs to fucking DIE.” One person joked, "Can't stop laughing at the fact that whenever someone dies, Matthew Perry shrieks at the sky, "Keanu Reeves still walks among us!" Another adds, Keanu Reeves: *just minding his own business and living his best life* Matthew Perry for some reason." Another shares a gif and writes, "The whole internet coming together to defend Keanu Reeves against Matthew Perry." One user mocks Perry's words and writes, "personally thrilled that keanu reeves walks among us." 

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

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