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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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What We Can Learn Inside 50 Cent’s Explosive Diddy Documentary: 5 Reasons You Should Watch

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50 Cent’s new Netflix docuseries about Sean “Diddy” Combs is more than a headline-grabbing exposé; it is a meticulous breakdown of how power, celebrity, and silence can collide in the entertainment industry.

Across its episodes, the series traces Diddy’s rise, the allegations that followed him for years, and the shocking footage and testimonies now forcing a wider cultural reckoning.

For viewers, it offers not just drama, but lessons about media literacy, accountability, and how society treats survivors when a superstar is involved.

Rapper 50 Cent pictured in Tup Tup Palace night club with owners James Jukes and Matt LoveDough, Newcastle, UK, 7th November 2015

1. It Chronicles Diddy’s Rise and Fall – And How Power Warps Reality

The docuseries follows Combs from hitmaker and business icon to a figure facing serious criminal conviction and public disgrace, mapping out decades of influence, branding, and behind-the-scenes behavior. Watching that arc shows how money, fame, and industry relationships can shield someone from scrutiny and delay accountability, even as disturbing accusations accumulate.

Rapper 50 Cent pictured in Tup Tup Palace night club with owners James Jukes and Matt LoveDough, Newcastle, UK, 7th November 2015

2. Never-Before-Seen Footage Shows How Narratives Are Managed

Exclusive footage of Diddy in private settings and in the tense days around his legal troubles reveals how carefully celebrity narratives are shaped, even in crisis.

Viewers can learn to question polished statements and recognize that what looks spontaneous in public is often the result of strategy, damage control, and legal calculation.

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3. Survivors’ Stories Highlight Patterns of Abuse and Silence

Interviews with alleged victims, former staff, and industry insiders describe patterns of control, fear, and emotional or physical harm that were long whispered about but rarely aired in this detail. Their stories underline how difficult it is to speak out against a powerful figure, teaching viewers why many survivors delay disclosure and why consistent patterns across multiple accounts matter.

4. 50 Cent’s Approach Shows Storytelling as a Tool for Accountability

As executive producer, 50 Cent uses his reputation and platform to push a project that leans into uncomfortable truths rather than protecting industry relationships. The series demonstrates how documentary storytelling can challenge established power structures, elevate marginalized voices, and pressure institutions to respond when traditional systems have failed.

5. The Cultural Backlash Reveals How Society Handles Celebrity Accountability

Reactions to the doc—ranging from people calling it necessary and brave to others dismissing it as a vendetta or smear campaign—expose how emotionally invested audiences can be in defending or condemning a famous figure. Watching that debate unfold helps viewers see how fandom, nostalgia, and bias influence who is believed, and why conversations about “cancel culture” often mask deeper questions about justice and who is considered too powerful to fall.

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South Park’s Christmas Episode Delivers the Antichrist

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A new Christmas-themed episode of South Park is scheduled to air with a central plot in which Satan is depicted as preparing for the birth of an Antichrist figure. The premise extends a season-long narrative arc that has involved Satan, Donald Trump, and apocalyptic rhetoric, positioning this holiday episode as a culmination of those storylines rather than a stand‑alone concept.

Episode premise and season context

According to published synopses and entertainment coverage, the episode frames the Antichrist as part of a fictional storyline that blends religious symbolism with commentary on politics, media, and cultural fear. This follows earlier Season 28 episodes that introduced ideas about Trump fathering an Antichrist child and tech billionaire Peter Thiel obsessing over prophecy and end‑times narratives. The Christmas setting is presented as a contrast to the darker themes, reflecting the series’ pattern of pairing holiday imagery with controversial subject matter.

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Public and political reactions

Coverage notes that some figures connected to Donald Trump’s political orbit have criticized the season’s portrayal of Trump and his allies, describing the show as relying on shock tactics rather than substantive critique. Commentators highlight that these objections are directed more at the depiction of real political figures and the show’s tone than at the specific theology of the Antichrist storyline.

At the time of reporting, there have not been widely reported, detailed statements from major religious leaders focused solely on this Christmas episode, though religion-focused criticism of South Park in general has a long history.

Media and cultural commentary

Entertainment outlets such as The Hollywood Reporter, Entertainment Weekly, Forbes, Slate, and USA Today describe the Antichrist arc as part of South Park’s ongoing use of Trump-era and tech-world politics as material for satire.

These reports emphasize that the show’s treatment of the Antichrist, Satan, and prophecy is designed as exaggerated commentary rather than doctrinal argument, while also acknowledging that many viewers may see the storyline as offensive or excessive.

Viewer guidance and content advisory

South Park is rated TV‑MA and is intended for adult audiences due to strong language, explicit themes, and frequent use of religious and political satire. Viewers who are sensitive to depictions of Satan, the Antichrist, or parodies involving real political figures may find this episode particularly objectionable, while others may view it as consistent with the show’s long‑running approach to controversial topics. As with previous episodes, individual responses are likely to vary widely, and the episode is best understood as part of an ongoing satirical series rather than a factual or theological statement.

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Sydney Sweeney Finally Confronts the Plastic Surgery Rumors

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Sydney Sweeney has decided she is finished watching strangers on the internet treat her face like a forensic project. After years of side‑by‑side screenshots, “then vs now” TikToks, and long comment threads wondering what work she has supposedly had done, the actor is now addressing the plastic surgery rumors directly—and using them to say something larger about how women are looked at in Hollywood and online.

Sweeney at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival red carpet premiere of Christy

Growing Up on Camera vs. “Before and After” Culture

Sweeney points out that people are often mistaking normal changes for procedures: she grew up on camera, her roles now come with big‑budget glam teams, and her body has shifted as she has trained, aged, and worked nonstop. Yet every new red‑carpet photo gets folded into a narrative that assumes surgeons, not time, are responsible. Rather than walking through a checklist of what is “real,” she emphasizes how bizarre it is that internet detectives comb through pores, noses, and jawlines as if they are owed an explanation for every contour of a woman’s face.

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The Real Problem Isn’t Her Face

By speaking up, Sweeney is redirecting the conversation away from her features and toward the culture that obsesses over them.

She argues that the real issue isn’t whether an actress has had work done, but why audiences feel so entitled to dissect her body as public property in the first place.

For her, the constant speculation is less about curiosity and more about control—another way to tell women what they should look like and punish them when they do not fit. In calling out that dynamic, Sweeney isn’t just defending herself; she is forcing fans and followers to ask why tearing apart someone else’s appearance has become such a popular form of entertainment.


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