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Why ‘Friends’ Cast Didn’t Speak During Matthew Perry In Memoriam … on January 17, 2024 at 5:48 pm The Hollywood Gossip

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The Matthew Perry in memoriam segment was a touching moment during the Emmy Awards. But why weren’t Friends cast members there for it?

Late last October, beloved actor Matthew Perry died at home. It was a tragedy.

He was one of the most memorable celebrity deaths of 2023. He has been a household name for decades.

Many have likened the Friends cast to being like a family. So why weren’t they present?

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Matthew Perry attends the GQ Men of the Year Party 2022 at The West Hollywood EDITION on November 17, 2022. (Photo Credit: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for GQ)

In Memoriam segments honor actors who have passed, like Matthew Perry

Emmys producers spoke to The Hollywood Reporter this week about why the Friends cast did not receive invitations to the 75th Annual Emmy Awards.

Yes, the tribute to the late Matthew Perry might have felt even more meaningful with them present.

But according to Emmys Executive Producer Jeannae Rouzan-Clay, “It’s still very fresh for them.”

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Friends Special Episode, “The One That Could Have Been, Part One” From L-R: Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox Arquette And Matt Leblanc. All The Friends Ponder What Might Have Been If Each Had Taken A Different Path In Life. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Another EP, Jesse Collins, shared that they had “talked about” inviting the remainder of the Friends cast. However, they ultimately decided to try a more tasteful option.

“I can imagine, from their side, they’re mourning someone who was still very close to them,” Collins reasoned..

“I can’t speak for them, but we all have to respect that they were their own family,” Collins continued. “It was probably just a little too soon.”

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Matthew Perry of the television show ‘The Kennedys – After Camelot’ speaks onstage during the REELZChannel portion of the 2017 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour at the Langham Hotel on January 13, 2017. (Photo Credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Not just Matthew Perry: 2023 claimed many tremendous talents before their time

Obviously, Perry was not the only tragic celebrity death this year. Andre Braugher, Frances Sternhagen, David McCallum, Lance Reddick, and so many more passed away.

The in memoriam segment paid tribute to many famous faces and lost talents while Charlie Puth sang “See You Again.”

The song transitioned into the Friends opening theme music, “I’ll Be There For You,” as a special nod to Perry.

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While that might seem like playing favorites, Collins reasoned that there were limits. One limit was not invitiing the Friends cast to the Matthew Perry in memoriam.

“Yes, Norman Lear and Matthew Perry, you have to give some special attention to, but you don’t want anyone to feel slighted,” the EP explained.

Collins continued: “Everybody’s contribution was significant, and this is their moment inside this package.”

Matthew Perry arrives at the premiere of “Ride” at ArcLight Hollywood on April 28, 2015. (Photo Credit: Angela Weiss/Getty Images)

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Matthew Perry died just three months ago

Perry passed away on October 28, 2023. The beloved actor was only 54 years old.

He was unresponsive at home in his private jacuzzi.

The medical examiner determined that the primary cause of death was the acute effects of ketamine.

Matthew Perry speaks onstage during the 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on September 23, 2012. (Photo Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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The medical examiner ultimately discovered a cocktail of substances in Matthew Perry’s system.

In addition to ketamine, which did not appear to be from a treatment program, he passed from drowning, coronary artery disease, and buprenorphine (an opioid).

For years, Perry’s struggles with sobriety defined his life. He spent millions attempting to become sober.

Matthew Perry arrives at the 9th Annual Dinner Benefiting the Lili Claire Foundation at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 14, 2006. (Photo Credit: Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

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More than once, Perry expressed a desire that his own struggles with substance abuse would inspire and educate others.

Though some of those closest to him described Perry’s sobriety as, at times, a “lie,” he did become sober multiple times during his decades-spanning battle.

Addiction is complex and so are people. This means that Perry has a complex legacy, too — because he is human. The passing of Matthew Perry still warranted a special in memoriam, but we understand why the Friends cast was not part of it.

Why ‘Friends’ Cast Didn’t Speak During Matthew Perry In Memoriam … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.

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The Matthew Perry in memoriam segment was a touching moment during the Emmy Awards. But why weren’t Friends cast members …
Why ‘Friends’ Cast Didn’t Speak During Matthew Perry In Memoriam … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip. 

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Jennifer Lopez’s Ex Fires Back: “You Are the Problem”

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Ojani Noa Accuses J.Lo of Cheating After “Never Been Loved” Comments

Jennifer Lopez is once again at the center of a media storm — but this time, it’s her first husband, Ojani Noa, turning up the heat. Following Lopez’s recent Howard Stern Show interview, in which she claimed she has “never been truly loved” by any of her exes, Noa has publicly accused the superstar of cheating and playing the victim.

In the viral Instagram post that has now spread across major outlets like TMZ and New York Post, Noa didn’t hold back.

“Stop putting us down. Stop putting me down with your victim card,” he wrote. “The problem is not us. Not me. The problem is you. You’re the one who couldn’t keep it in your pants.”

“You Chose Fame and Lies Over Love”

Noa and Lopez were married briefly from 1997 to 1998, before her rise to Hollywood superstardom. In his explosive statement, he accused her of being unfaithful during their marriage, claiming she prioritized fame over their relationship.

“You have been loved a few times. You’ve been married four times. And have had countless relationships in between,” Noa continued. “You decided to lie, to cheat on me. You begged me to keep the marriage intact to avoid bad press.”

Noa described himself as “faithful, honest, and loving,” saying he uprooted his life and career to support Lopez at the beginning of her entertainment journey. “I left my family, my friends, everything behind for you,” he wrote, “but once fame came calling, you left me behind.”​

Lopez Silent Amid Growing Backlash

As of now, Jennifer Lopez has not publicly responded to Noa’s allegations. During her Howard Stern interview, the singer and actress claimed her former partners “weren’t capable” of loving her, saying, “It’s not that I’m not lovable… it’s that they’re not capable.”

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Her remarks were widely interpreted as referencing all of her ex-husbands — including Marc Anthony, Cris Judd, and Ben Affleck — but it was Noa who reacted first and most forcefully. His comments have ignited widespread debate online, with many questioning whether Lopez’s honesty came at the expense of others’ reputations.

Public Response and Media Fallout

The online reaction has been intense, with social media users split between defending Lopez’s right to share her truth and blasting her for allegedly rewriting history. Meanwhile, entertainment analysts note that the controversy adds to an increasingly turbulent year for the singer, following canceled tours, underperforming films, and ongoing scrutiny over her marriage to Affleck.

This latest backlash has also reignited conversations about Lopez’s highly publicized romantic history. As tabloids and fans speculate whether more exes might respond, the situation underscores an old truth in celebrity culture — that every candid confession comes with consequences.

For now, Jennifer Lopez remains silent. But in the court of public opinion, the debate about who’s really at fault in her love story is only just beginning.

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Selling Your Soul in Hollywood: The Hidden Cost of Fame

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By all appearances, Hollywood is a dream factory — a place where charisma, talent, and luck collide to create stars. But behind the camera lights and red carpets lies a conversation few inside the industry speak openly about: the spiritual and moral price of ambition.

For actor Omar Gooding, the idea of “selling your soul” in Hollywood isn’t a metaphor — it’s a moral process that begins with tiny compromises. In an October 2025 interview, Gooding explained that no one in Hollywood makes a literal deal with the devil. Instead, it’s the quiet yeses, the moments when comfort overrides conviction, that mark the beginning of the trade. “They don’t say, ‘Take this or you’ll never make it,’” he said. “They just put it in front of you. You choose.”

Those choices, he argues, create a pattern. Once you show that you’ll accept something you once resisted, the industry notices. “Hollywood knows who it can get away with what,” Gooding said. “One thing always leads to another.” The phrase “selling your soul,” in this context, means losing your say — doing what you’re told rather than what you believe in.

That moral tension has long shadowed the arts. Comedians like Dave Chappelle, who famously walked away from millions to preserve his creative integrity, often serve as examples of where conviction and career collide. In resurfaced interviews, Chappelle hinted that he felt manipulated and silenced by powerful figures who sought control of his narrative, warning that “they’re trying to convince me I’m insane.”

This isn’t just about conspiracy — it’s about agency. Hollywood runs on perception. Performers are rewarded for being agreeable, moldable, entertaining. Those who question the machine or refuse the script risk exile, while those who conform are elevated — sometimes beyond what they can handle.

We see the ‘collections’ all the time,” Gooding explained. “When the bill comes due, you can tell. They made that deal long ago.”

But the story doesn’t end in darkness. Gooding also emphasizes that in today’s entertainment landscape, artists have more control than ever. With streaming, social media, and creator‑driven platforms, performers don’t have to “play the game” to be seen. Independent creators can build their own stages, speak their own truths, and reach millions without trading authenticity for access.

Still, the temptation remains — recognition, validation, quick success. And every generation of artists must answer the same question: What are you willing to do for fame?

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As Gooding put it, “You just make the best choices you can. Because once it’s gone — your name, your peace, your soul — there’s no buying it back.”

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California Bans AI Clones from Replacing Real Talent

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California just made a dramatic stand for human creativity, defeating the threat of AI actor clones with a sweeping new law that puts people—not algorithms—back in the Hollywood spotlight. With the stroke of Governor Gavin Newsom’s pen in October 2025, the state has sent a clear message to studios, tech companies, and the world: entertainment’s heart belongs to those who create and perform, not to digital facsimiles.

California Draws a Hard Line: No More AI Clones

For months, the entertainment industry has been divided over the use of artificial intelligence in filmmaking. Studios, lured by promises of cost-cutting and creative flexibility, have invested in software that can mimic an actor’s face, voice, and even emotional range. But for performers, this wave of synthetic reproduction has triggered alarm—encouraged by chilling stories of deepfakes, unauthorized digital doubles, and contracts that let studios reuse a star’s likeness indefinitely, sometimes without pay or approval.

The new California law, anchored by AB 2602 and AB 1836, changes everything:

  • Every contract must explicitly detail how studios can use digital replicas or voice models, preventing once-common “blank check” agreements that overlooked this risk.
  • No one—not studios nor streaming giants—can create or release AI-generated clones of an actor, living or dead, without clear, written consent from the performer or their estate.
  • The law gives families new powers to defend loved ones from posthumous deepfake exploitation, closing painful loopholes that once let virtual versions of late icons appear in new ads, films, or games.

Actors Celebrate a Major Victory

The legislation rides the momentum of the recent SAG-AFTRA strike, where real-life talent demanded control over their own digital destinies. Leaders say these protections will empower artists to negotiate fair contracts and refuse participation in projects that cross ethical lines, restoring dignity and choice in an industry threatened by silent algorithms.

Stars, unions, and advocacy groups are hailing the law as the most robust defense yet against unwanted AI replications.

As one actor put it, “This isn’t just about money—it’s about identity, legacy, and respect for real artists in a synthetic age.”

A New Chapter for the Entertainment Industry

California’s move isn’t just a victory for local talent—it’s a warning shot to studios everywhere. Companies will now be forced to rethink production pipelines, consult legal counsel, and obtain proper clearance before digitally cloning anyone. Global entertainment platforms and tech developers will need to comply if they want to do business in the world’s entertainment capital.

These laws also set a template likely to ripple through other creative fields, from musicians whose voices can be synthesized to writers whose work could be mimicked by generative AI. For now, California performers finally have a powerful shield, ready to fight for the right to shape their own public image.

Conclusion: Human Talent Takes Center Stage

With its no-nonsense ban on AI actor clones, California draws a bold line, championing the work, likeness, and very humanity of its creative stars. It’s a landmark step that forces the entertainment industry to choose: respect real talent, or face real consequences. The age of the consentless digital double is over—human performers remain the true source of Hollywood magic.

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