Real reason why Matthew Perry's 'Friends' co-stars don't appear in Peacock documentary
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Matthew Perry’s documentary chronicling the events surrounding his tragic death was released on Peacock on Tuesday, February 25, but several fans were left disheartened as his 'Friends' co-stars were missing from it.
While the speculations regarding Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, Jennifer Aniston, and David Schwimmer's absence are aplenty, the documentary's director Robert Palumbo has revealed the actual reason behind their glaring absence.
Matthew Perry's 'Friends' co-stars decline to appear in the documentary
Speaking to the New York Post, Robert Palumbo revealed that Matthew Perry’s 'Friends' co-stars declined to participate in the Peacock documentary that featured the tragic events surrounding the late actor’s death along with the legal proceedings.
Owing to the subject matter being of a sensitive nature, Palumbo said that the '17 Again' star’s friends chose to give it a miss.
"Understandably, they were reluctant to participate in a documentary about Matthew at this point," explained Palumbo, before adding, "Maybe many years down the line… We understand their decision not to appear."
He added that apart from grief, the director attributed the "waves of anger" associated with Perry’s sudden death as well.
"Many of us remember getting that news that he had died, and then eventually getting the details [that gave us] sort of waves of anger… I feel like people still have him in their hearts and minds," the director added.
He continued, "As the facts began to come out about what happened to him, how he died, and what possibly could have been a ring of people that sort of facilitated his death, I was really upset.”
Nevertheless, the documentary wasn’t entirely devoid of Perry’s co-stars from his hit NBC show, as the documentary does include an interview with actress Morgan Fairchild, who played Chandler’s mother in the sitcom.
Palumbo noted, "He was someone who wanted to be remembered, not so much for his time on Friends but for how he has been able to help other people with addiction issues."
"I think that that’s still the case to this day, even after his death. I think he will have a legacy of helping other people. And Morgan thought that was really the most important thing to communicate," said the director, before referencing Fairchild’s presence.
Matthew Perry's death brought his 'Friends' co-stars even closer
While the 'Friends' co-stars are still not in a position to talk about their friend's untimely death, it has nevertheless strengthened the remaining colleagues' bond.
Speaking to OK! Magazine, a source told in January, "It’s bittersweet, but his death brought them all even closer."
The insider noted that the former colleagues, who somewhat drifted apart over the years, have once again regained the bond.
"They check in with each other more often now," revealed the mole, before noting that they have even "renewed" an old "text chain" through which they used to communicate when they were still filming.
They described Aniston, Kudrow, Cox, LeBlanc, and Schwimmer's bond as "unbreakable."
