Perry’s comments referencing The Matrix star have proved controversial.
Friends star Matthew Perry has issued an apology for comments he makes in his new book referencing Keanu Reeves.
Titled Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, Perry’s memoir is being released on 1 November and reportedly sees him reflect on the death of River Phoenix at age 23 from a drug overdose.
Perry and Pheonix both appeared in the 1988 film A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, while Reeves starred with Phoenix in My Own Private Idaho in 1991.
Multiple outlets report that the Friends actor writes in his memoir: “Why is it that the original thinkers like River Phoenix and Heath Ledger die, but Keanu Reeves still walks among us?”
It is stated that Reeves is mentioned again in the memoir as Perry writes about the passing of his Almost Heroes co-star Chris Farley.
Farley died at the age of 33 also from a drug overdose.
“I punched a hole through Jennifer Aniston’s dressing room wall when I found out.” Perry is said to write, before adding “Keanu Reeves walks among us.”
After the comments about Reeves received significant attention, Perry issued a statement to various outlets which read:
“I’m actually a big fan of Keanu. I just chose a random name, my mistake.
“I apologise. I should have used my own name instead.”
Recently, Matthew Perry made headlines after revealing the staggering cost of his journey to sobriety.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, the actor shared that he recently celebrated 18 months of sobriety, estimating: “I’ve probably spent $9 million or something trying to get sober.”
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