Jennifer Aniston Reflects on Long Mourning Before Matthew Perry’s 2023 Ketamine Overdose Death

Jennifer Aniston has spoken candidly about mourning her Friends co-star Matthew Perry long before his death in October 2023 from the acute effects of ketamine, following his decades-long struggle with addiction. She reflected on their efforts to support him during his battle, saying, "We did everything we could when we could," but acknowledged the difficulty of his fight with addiction. Perry, who openly chronicled his substance abuse struggles in his 2022 memoir, underwent ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety, though the ketamine causing his death was not linked to this treatment. Aniston expressed relief that Perry is now free from pain, stating, "There's a part of me that thinks this is better. I'm glad he's out of that pain." Following his death, multiple individuals have been charged in connection with distributing ketamine to Perry, including a woman known as the "Ketamine Queen" and a doctor who pled guilty to drug distribution. The Friends cast has described their bond as a chosen family deeply affected by his loss, with Aniston emphasizing the profound emotional impact of saying goodbye to a close friend and colleague.