Matthew Perry 'Friends' Cast Speaks Out After Shocking Death

Matthew Perry's costars from "Friends" have broken their silence on the actor's death ... revealing the shocking passing has left them all "utterly devastated."

Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer provided a statement to People, saying, "We were more than just cast mates. We are a family. There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss."

They go on to add, "For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world."

TMZ broke the story, Matthew was found unresponsive in his jacuzzi over the weekend after 2 hours of pickleball ... sources told us there were no illicit drugs found at his home, but there were several medications discovered -- including anti-depressants and anxiety meds.

An autopsy has been done, but the results are inconclusive ... and an official cause of death could take months before an answer is discovered.

Since Matthew's passing, fans, friends, and family members have all mourned the loss of the actor -- a memorial was even set up outside the NYC building which was used for exterior shots on "Friends," specifically to portray the place where the pals all lived.

We discussed Matthew's legacy on the latest episode of Last Days, available on all podcast platforms.

Matthew Perry Death 'Friends' Theme Song Spikes ... TV Networks Pay Tribute

Matthew Perry fans are in their feelings over his death, playing music from "Friends" and buying up his books ... with spikes in purchases and streams across the board.

According to stats from Spotify and YouTube, the "Friends" theme song "I'll Be There for You" has had over 1.3 million streams across Spotify and YouTube since his death.

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Matthew's memoir started flying off the shelves Monday ... over at Amazon, his book, "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir" is now the top-seller for hardcovers and it's No. 5 in paperback ... it came out last year but there's obviously renewed interest.

Meanwhile, other books about Matthew are flying off the shelves too ... two biographies are now hits, and other people are buying a "Friends" coloring book from Jeff Bezos' website.

Basically, any book related to Matthew is seeing big sales gains.

Over on the TV side, networks are remembering Matthew with "Friends" marathons and an In Memoriam.

TBS has 'Best of Chandler' marathons scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday ... with more than 46 hours of 'Friends' episodes on tap.

Streamers are remembering Matthew too ... HBO Max is adding an "In memory of Matthew Perry 1969-2023" slide to the beginning of every 'Friends' episode.

Britney Spears Sorry Officer, Nature Calls!!! Traffic Stop Body Cam

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Britney Spears used one of the oldest tricks in the book in an attempt to get out of a recent traffic stop, explaining she had to go to the bathroom ... which caused her to cross the double-yellow traffic lines.

We've obtained the body cam footage from the California Highway Patrol officers pulling Britney over on two separate occasions -- September 10 and October 6 -- near her home in Thousand Oaks.

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During both exchanges, Britney is super apologetic and explains she's just coming back from a vacation. However, during the October 6 stop, she blames having to use the bathroom for passing on double yellow lines, exclaiming, "I'm so sorry, I have to use the bathroom ... it's about to come out right now. I'm so sorry."

During the September 10 stop, Britney's pulled over for going 61 mph in a 40 mph zone. Again, she's apologetic, but also gets busted for driving without her license and proof of insurance in the car.

We should note, Britney explains her security usually holds onto her documentation ... but that's not enough for the officer, who lets her know she's gotta keep it on her at all times.

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For the yellow double line violation, Britney was hit with a $327 fine. The violations from early September were a bit more pricey, with a $1,140 fine.

Matthew Perry Planned To Start Foundation for People with Substance Abuse

Matthew Perry wanted to leave a lasting legacy beyond his fame as Chandler Bing ... in the form of a foundation dedicated to helping folks suffering from substance abuse.

Sources close to the late actor tell TMZ ... in the months leading up to his death, Matthew was in the early stages of creating the foundation ... akin to what Betty Ford did with her Foundation near Palm Springs.

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While Matthew died before he could turn his dream into reality, our sources say several people close to him want to pursue the foundation in his honor ... and they're planning to move forward and get it up and running.

Remember ... Matthew was open about his history with substance abuse -- it's a big topic in his book -- and by all accounts he was sober, using pickleball as an outlet to help with his recovery.

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HOW I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED
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Matthew wanted his legacy to be helping people who are struggling with substance abuse, and not his starring role on "Friends." The foundation could have done the trick.

It will be interesting to see how Matthew's vision for a foundation takes shape.

Morgan Fairchild Matthew Perry Always 'Had Stars In His Eyes' ... Reflects On Playing His 'Friends' Mom

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Morgan Fairchild is reflecting on her time working with Matthew Perry on the "Friends" set, where she played his character Chandler Bing's mother ... praising him as an "incredibly talented actor" who "always had stars in his eyes."

Morgan's the latest in a long list of industry figures who've had nothing but kind words for Matthew, and she joined us Monday on "TMZ Live" to share her memories of his talent ... telling us he had a rare, impromptu ability to hilariously tweak lines for his character. BING-O!

It was clear her memories from the set of the hit NBC sitcom were overwhelmingly of the super-friendly actor bringing boundless energy to set -- all while sporting a big smile on his face.

Morgan added, Matthew was very professional and consistent with his joyful attitude on set, even during the times he was dealing with personal demons, such as his highly publicized battle with substance abuse.

Of course, with "Friends" having been such a monster hit for Matthew, the veteran actress was also sure to jog everyone's memory on his other acting credentials to showcase his talents.

She also praised him for baring his soul and helping others through his memoir, "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir."

It certainly appeared as though Matthew had made another friend in Morgan.

As we first reported, the actor shockingly passed away Saturday just 2 hours after playing pickleball at Riviera Country Club near his home in Pacific Palisades.

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Our sources have told us foul play is NOT suspected in Matthew's cause of death, and there were NO illicit drugs found at his home.

The L.A. County Coroner will conduct a toxicology exam to determine if drugs were in his system when he died ... but it could take a few months to get an answer.

Milo Ventimiglia Rocking Wedding Band In L.A. ... Married Model In Private Ceremony

"This Is Us" Star Milo Ventimiglia was spotted wearin' a ring on that finger ... and we've confirmed the actor has tied the knot with model Jarah Mariano in a secret ceremony.

Milo and Jarah were watching Saturday's Rugby World Series match at a restaurant called Yahir in Los Angeles -- but the big game between New Zealand and South Africa wasn't even the most interesting thing going on at the establishment.

Check out the bling on Milo's left hand -- Jarah could even be seen touching his ring while they enjoyed their time together. And yes, Milo's rep confirms with TMZ that the 2, indeed, got hitched.

The secret wedding went down earlier this year in a private ceremony with family and some close friends ... safe to say, they certainly flew under the radar with this one.

Milo and Jarah have been linked together since last year, but never came out and confirmed their romance -- but it doesn't get a whole lot more confirmed than this.

Congrats!!!

Matthew Perry Fan-Made Memorial in NYC ... Outside 'Friends' Building

Matthew Perry is being honored in New York City at a famous "Friends" location -- instantly recognizable to fans of the show -- and this shrine is growing by the hour.

A memorial has been set up outside of the West Village building which was used for exterior shots of the apartment where the show's main characters lived. Basically, it's where Chandler and Joey, and Monica and Rachel lived.

The actual scenes inside the apartment were filmed on the Warner Bros. backlot in Burbank, CA, but this location in the Big Apple -- on the corner of 90 Bedford Street and Grove Street -- is where "Friends" fans are coming to share their memories of Matthew.

As you can see ... tons of flower bouquets are being left at the light post there, and they're starting to stack up into a hefty pile. There are also handwritten letters and notes commemorating Matthew's iconic character from the series.

Some of the messages people are leaving there can actually be read from the photos ... and a lot of them are giving thanks for Matthew's performance, and for the laughter and joy he spread through his 10-year run on "Friends."

The fact the memorial popped up organically like this speaks to just how impactful his sudden death was ... not only did it shock the entertainment industry, but the world too.

In addition to all the items that are being placed on the street in honor of Matthew ... people are gathering there in spurts, although there's no sign of a vigil just yet.

The investigation into Perry's passing is still ongoing, and there are still a lot of unanswered questions over what exactly led to him drowning in his hot tub at home.

We know an autopsy has been done, but the results are inconclusive. His body is ready to be picked up by his family -- and ya gotta imagine an official funeral is now being planned.

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His old castmates have yet to address his death ... but word is, they'll speak soon enough.

Ex-NBAer Joe Smith Furious Over Wife's OnlyFans Page ... 'That's F***ed Up'

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Ex-NBA player Joe Smith is not a fan of his wife's latest business venture ... absolutely losing it after finding out she has an OnlyFans account.

Smith's partner of five years, Kisha Chavis -- a former adult actress who went by the name Yasmine Pendavis -- shared footage of his reaction to discovering her XXX subscription-based profile ... and he was PISSED.

"Just finding out you got an OnlyFans page all these years," Smith said in the clip ... adding she should have had a conversation with him before hopping on the platform.

"That's bulls***," Smith -- the No. 1 overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft -- said. "That's f***ed up, Kish. I'm telling you, that's f***ed up."

Kisha then defends herself ... claiming she isn't doing any work with other people, so it's "my body, my f***ing choice."

She also said she tried numerous times to come up with a solution to her financial status together ... but ultimately decided to revisit her former career path.

"You knew who the f*** I was when you met me ... I thought I would never have to go back to anything like this again. But, unfortunately, that's not the case right now."

It's worth noting -- Smith reportedly made $61 million in his career ... but only pocketed around $18 mil after taxes and agent fees, among other expenses. He has since opened up about his money problems.

Smith said he doesn't care how much money she's making on OF -- it doesn't change the fact that she was doing it behind his back ... and he sees it as a smack in the face.

We take it Smith won't be subscribing to Kisha's page anytime soon.

Matthew Perry 'Never Been Happier' ... Before Sudden Death

Matthew Perry was in a good place before his shocking death ... we're told he was happy, content, optimistic and had recently committed to a new film.

Sources in daily contact with the late "Friends" star tell TMZ ... Matthew had "never been happier" and had just moved into his new house 3 weeks ago and was loving the new digs.

In addition to being happy about his new home, we're told Matthew had a lot going on in Hollywood ... our sources say he had recently committed to acting in a new movie, a drama, and he was also working on other projects and coming up with ideas for scripts.

Overall, our sources say Matthew's outlook on life was optimistic ... and he was sober and felt content.

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Add it all up, and it makes sense why those around Matthew are so shocked by his sudden death Saturday ... as we first reported, he was found unresponsive in his jacuzzi after playing 2 hours of pickleball at Riviera near his home in Pacific Palisades.

Of course, Matthew's been open about his history with substance abuse, and while there's speculation that could be a factor here, so far there's been no indication that's the case.

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For now, Matthew's cause of death remains a mystery ... and our sources have told us foul play is NOT suspected, and there were NO illicit drugs found at his home.

Matthew had picked up pickleball too ... using the sport as a way to keep him away from drugs and on the straight and narrow.

We discussed Matthew's legacy on the latest episode of Last Days, available on all podcast platforms.

JEREMY ALLEN WHITE Brings ROSALÍA Flowers, Lots of 'Em!!! Hot Farmers Market Date

Jeremy Allen White and singer Rosalía took a day trip to a Los Angeles farmers market ... further fueling those dating rumors from the last couple weeks with a giant bouquet of flowers.

The two were spotted Sunday, with "The Bear" star carrying a large bouquet while the 31-year-old also cradled a flower in her hand, presumably a gift from Jeremy.

Both looked pretty casual and comfortable around the other ... the actor wore a khaki cardigan, baggy black joggers and a baseball cap. Rosalía with a blue tie-dye hoodie, white shorts, and biker buckle-up boots.

While they both have yet to confirm their relationship status, the photos are pretty telling, not to mention, their sighting comes after they fueled romance speculation last week with a dinner date and a Los Angeles screening of "Wild Things."

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Remember, it was back in August when White was spotted locking lips with actress Ashley Moore in a very public display of affection. The smooch came amid his divorce from his estranged wife Addison Timlin with whom he shares two young daughters, Ezer and Dolores.

TMZ broke the story Addison had filed for divorce in May after three years of marriage. They appeared to be friendly while at their kids' soccer practice in July; however, in docs obtained by TMZ earlier this month, it was revealed that Jeremy agreed to test for alcohol as part of a custody agreement he has with Addison.

As well as part testing, he also has to attend AA once a week as well as other therapy sessions. Their divorce still has yet to be finalized.

Sean Paul Earthquake Hits Mid-Interview ... Sprints Out of Room!!!

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Sean Paul had to press pause on an interview when an earthquake rocked the building he was in at the time ... and he immediately got busy high-tailing it out of the room!

The rapper was chatting with artist Tofu Jack and director/producer of Vice Documentaries, Dan Zabludovsky, from his native Jamaica when a 5.4 magnitude quake hit near Kingston.

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Just as Sean chimed into the convo about the music biz, his camera started shaking and you could see the whole room tremble ... and then he quickly left the frame. You can hear the sound of things shifting around in his room as Dan and Tofu watched in shock.

After some movement, Sean Paul's feed disappears -- unclear if his internet cut out, or if those running the stream got rid of it, anticipating the worst ... but Tofu Jack accidentally brought a bit of humor to the tense situation by adding an ill-timed sound effect.

BTW, the earthquake was a pretty big one for Jamaica .. and it set off some panic, and caused some mild property damage on the island. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported.

Sean dropped a track last year called "Earthquake," but this ain't the kinda promotion anyone needs. Bless up yuself, SP!

Matthew Perry Played Pickleball To Help With His Recovery ... Kept Him Away From Drugs

It's no secret Matthew Perry loved pickleball ... but now we're learning the game also helped him tremendously in his recovery from drug abuse.

The "Friends" actor played pickleball religiously at Riviera Country Club near his L.A. area home -- and he even had a personal coach, Matt Manasse.

Manasse told People magazine ... Perry used the game as a tool to keep him away from drugs and on the straight and narrow.

"He thought it was something that could help in his recovery and he was doing an awesome job," Manasse said.

Manasse noted Perry was so passionate about the game he would play five times a week and talk incessantly about it.

"[Perry] got so much better, always made everyone laugh," Manasse said, adding, "He was competitive, not in a bad way at all. He loved it. When he hit an unbelievable shot, he would tell you about it for days."

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Manasse also described Perry as a caring person who was always trying to help others, especially recovering addicts by introducing them to pickleball at Riviera.

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TMZ broke the story ... Perry, 54, apparently drowned in his jacuzzi Saturday after playing 2 hours of pickleball at the country club. We're told he was in good spirits during the game.

Later that afternoon, his assistant returned to his house after running errands and discovered Perry was unresponsive. The assistant called 911, Perry's mother and one of his siblings, as well as another person.

Law enforcement tells us ... authorities discovered anti-depressants, anti-anxiety drugs and a COPD drug inside Perry's house. COPD refers to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, which is often used to treat emphysema or chronic bronchitis. Perry smoked cigarettes during his life.

The L.A. County Coroner is conducting toxicology tests to determine if any drugs were in Perry's system.

Mary Lou Retton Still Battling Pneumonia ... But 'Continuing To Slowly Recover'

Mary Lou Retton is opening up about her battle with pneumonia for the first time since she contracted the illness earlier this month ... and she says while she is recovering, she's not totally out of the woods yet.

In a statement posted to her Instagram page on Monday afternoon, the Olympic legend thanked her followers for all of their support ... but added that her recovery from the ailment is moving at a snail's pace.

"I'm beyond blessed to have the opportunity to make this statement," the 55-year-old said. "I am overwhelmed with all the love and support from the world as I fight. I am forever grateful to you all!"

"I'm with family continuing to slowly recover and staying very positive as I know this recovery is a long and slow process," she added. "I appreciate everyone's respect of my privacy at this time."

Retton was diagnosed with a rare form of pneumonia at the beginning of October ... and ended up in the ICU over it all.

During her multiple-day stay at the hospital, her family revealed she suffered a "scary setback" ... and at times, things seemed dire. Thankfully, however, Retton was able to fight through it all ... and returned home to recover last week.

In her statement Monday, she promised to reveal more about her fight at a later time.

"I love you all," she wrote.

A fundraiser to help with her medical bills, meanwhile, has received $459,324 from over 8,000 donors.

Shani Louk Kidnapped Israel Festivalgoer Beheaded by Hamas ... Israeli President Confirms

Shani Louk, the Israeli festivalgoer who was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists, has died ... this according to Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The MFA said Monday it's "devastated" to have confirmed the death of the 23-year-old German-Israeli -- adding, "Our hearts are broken 💔. May her memory be a blessing."

In a disturbing detail, Isaac Herzog, the President of Israel, reportedly told a German newspaper Shani was beheaded.

As we reported, Shani was attending the Supernova festival on October 7 near the Gaza Strip -- the same day Hamas began attacking, opening fire on those in the crowd with guns and rockets and kidnapping dozens of the concertgoers.

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Video from just before the attacks showed her dancing and having fun on the festival grounds ... but what came after was nothing short of horror -- being stripped naked and paraded in the back of a pickup truck while Hamas terrorists spat on her.

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Shani's mother, Ricarda, was pleading for anyone with info about her daughter to come forward, and later said she'd gotten word from an unnamed Palestinian that she was alive, and allegedly getting treated at a Gaza hospital.

It's unclear if her death happened before or after that report of her alleged treatment while the hands of Hamas.

Shani's boyfriend, Orión Hernández Radoux, was also with her at the festival ... and chilling texts written in Arabic like, "Liberate Palestine," "God damn you," and "I spit on you," were sent to contacts in his phone after the attack.

Shani was just 23.

RIP

Charlie Puth Pays Tribute To Matthew Perry ... Plays 'Friends' Theme Song, 'See You Again' In Concert

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Charlie Puth took time out of his latest concert to pay tribute to the late Matthew Perry ... performing the iconic "Friends" theme song, followed by one of his own touching hits.

The singer took a detour during his concert in Australia over the weekend to play a piano rendition of "I'll Be There For You," the main track for Perry's hit TV show.

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It's a pretty emotional moment, and the entire crowd joins Charlie in singing the world-famous song. It got even more bittersweet when he transitioned into his 2015 hit, "See You Again" -- paying more homage to the actor.

TMZ broke the story, Matthew was found unresponsive Saturday in his jacuzzi by his assistant, whom Perry sent out to pick up a new iPhone and prescription glasses for him.

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Law enforcement sources told us first responders didn't find any illegal drugs in his home, but did find anti-depressants, anti-anxiety meds, and a COPD drug.

The L.A. County Coroner will be conducting a toxicology exam to determine if drugs were in his system when he died ... but that process could take months before an answer is revealed.

Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce Skeleton Homages Pop Up ... Takin' Over Halloween

Looks like Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce are dominating the Halloween game this season, much to the surprise of no one ... appearing as skeletons on front lawns everywhere.

The spooky version of the couple has been popping up across the country, as made apparent from the viral vids online ... one shows Travis and a whole lotta versions of Taylor in her Halloween Era -- paying homage to the singer's multiple looks in her "Eras" tour concerts.

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One fan also had a bunch of different Taylors out front, with a skeleton Travis cheering them on in a folding chair on the sidelines.

They're all pretty creative, TBH ... one display was done up to look just like a private concert -- with the decorator even taking over the local airwaves, so anyone that drives by can listen along with the undead crowd!

As you know, Taylor and Travis are the talk of the town right now, with their romance in full swing ... so the pop-ups don't seem that far outta left field. Folks have even been dressing up as the iconic duo over Halloweekend, as expected.

Don't forget, a couple of huge skeletons were set up outside Michal Owens' home in Indiana earlier this month ... but what followed were a bunch of Swifties lookin' to get in on the fun, too!

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