Beauty queen Athenna Crosby has claimed it was she who was spotted having lunch with her close friend Matthew Perry the day before his death.
The Friends star, 54, appeared in good spirits as he sat down with a brunette at the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, California, on October 27, just one day before his death.
Crosby, a former Miss California and finalist in Miss Teen USA, has claimed she was the mystery woman, telling DailyMail.com: ‘Matthew was in good spirits during our outing together and we are all still in shock over this tremendous loss.
“I hope this will lead more people to his recent memoir and his advocacy against addiction, and that by seeing his story, more people who are struggling can get the help they need.”
Other diners said the duo sat for more than an hour and a half before leaving together, with the actor largely ignoring his food as he was immersed in his glamorous guest, according to TMZ.
Other guests said the duo sat for more than an hour and a half before leaving together, with the actor largely ignoring his food.
Crosby, a former Miss California and Miss Teen USA finalist, has claimed it was she who the star had lunch with on Friday
On her Instagram, Crosby also said, “Again, I never meant to say anything, but since I was identified, yes, I was with him last Friday.
‘I would like to emphasize that Matthew was in extremely good spirits and spoke enthusiastically to me about the things that awaited him in his life.
‘He was so happy and lively. Please refrain from any speculation surrounding his death and know that the man was making a comeback and truly deserved more time on this earth. Our entertainment industry has truly lost a legend. REST IN PEACE.’
Crosby also shared a short video of her opening a copy of his signed memoir, which read: “Theens. A number one New York Times bestseller for the number one girl.”
In a tribute, Crosby said: “I wasn’t planning on talking about this, but what I will say is that I had the honor of knowing Matthew personally.
‘I am so devastated by his death but felt it was in poor taste to talk about it publicly as the focus should not be on me but rather on him and his legacy.
“But yes, we were friends and I was one of the last people to talk to him and see him before he passed away.”
Crosby also posted a tribute to Perry on her Instagram
In a separate post on her Instagram, Crosby said she was “one of the last people to speak to him and see him before he passed away.”
Crosby also shared a short video of her opening a copy of Perry’s memoir that he had signed
Athenna Crosby attends Babes In Toyland PINK Party For Breast Cancer Awareness Month held at Skybar on October 14, 2023 in West Hollywood, California
The investigation into Perry’s death is ongoing, but officials have said there are no indications of foul play.
It is believed he drowned, although no official cause of death has been announced.
First responders on the scene revealed that when Perry was found by his assistant, he was found underwater before they lifted his head in a desperate attempt to give him some air.
By the time the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived at his home in the Pacific Palisades, the actor was already dead, it was later determined.
It comes after a 15-second call emerged showing the moment his assistant called 911 to report a possible cardiac arrest.
Perry had been open about his past struggles with alcohol and substance abuse, but said in recent interviews that he was sober and sober.
Perry wrote in his memoir published last year that he spent $9 million to get sober. He revealed that he had attended 6,000 AA meetings, been to rehab 15 times and been in detox 65 times.
First responders reportedly found antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications in the building, but there were no signs of illegal drugs.
Family friends had also reported that he seemed “fatigued” in the days before his death.
As tributes pour in for the actor, his ex-fiance has been left ‘heartbroken’ by his loss after hoping for a long-term relationship with Perry before ‘throwing it away’.
Perry and Hurwitz were first romantically linked in 2018, before their engagement in November 2020.
However, their relationship came to a dramatic end in the summer of 2021 after it was claimed Perry had received messages from a 19-year-old on exclusive dating app Raya.
“Of course she is heartbroken by his death,” an insider told DailyMail.com. “She loved him and, like anyone else in her case, wishes things had been different.”
On Monday, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer all signed a statement telling fans they were heartbroken by the news of Perry’s death on Saturday.
Perry’s ex-fiancée Molly Hurwitz had hoped for a long-term relationship with Perry before “he threw it away,” an insider told DailyMail.com
Courteney Cox starred as Monica Geller, Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing, Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller, Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani and Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay in the hit sitcom
The cast told People: “We are all so devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just castmates. We are a family.
“There is so much to say, but now we are going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.”
The stars continued: “We will say more in due time, as soon as we are able to do so.
“For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends and everyone who loved him around the world.”
Perry famously starred as Chandler Bing in the hit sitcom, alongside Aniston as Rachel, Cox as Monica, LeBlanc as Joey, Kudrow as Phoebe and Schwimmer as Ross.