Podcaster Kevin Brennan was criticized on social media after posting a tweet making light of Friends star Matthew Perry’s death on Saturday at the age of 54, in which he was found in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home.
The comedian and former Saturday Night Live writer, 63, tweeted a link to TMZ’s coverage of the actor’s death on Saturday with the caption: “DROWNED IN A HOT TUB. HAHAHAHA.’
Brennan, host of a podcast called Misery loves companyresponded to a tweet from TMZ’s reporting of his comments with the headline “Ex-SNL writer-comedian Kevin Brennan mocks Matthew Perry’s death.”
Brennan responded Sunday night, “I didn’t mock it. I just thought it was funny. But I do like it when junkies die.’
The Friends actor, who played Chandler Bing on the NBC hit, struggled with substance abuse throughout his life and said he wanted to help others dealing with a similar situation.
The Latest: Podcaster Kevin Brennan, 63, was criticized on social media after posting a tweet making light of Friends star Matthew Perry’s death on Saturday at the age of 54, in which he was found in a hot tub at his Los Angeles at home
The comedian and former Saturday Night Live writer, 63, tweeted a link to TMZ’s coverage of the actor’s death on Saturday with the caption: “DROWNED IN A HOT TUB. HAHAHAHA’
Perry, in a November 2022 appearance on the podcast Q with Tom Power at Toronto’s Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, said the “most important thing” he would like to be remembered for “is wanting to help people in their fight against addiction,
“The best thing about me, bar none, is when an alcoholic or drug addict comes up to me and says, ‘Will you help me?'” he said. “I can say yes and follow through and do it.
“When I die, I don’t want Friends to be the first thing mentioned. I want this to be the first thing that comes up, and I’m going to have to spend the rest of my life proving that.”
Perry said it was difficult for him to watch previous episodes of Friends because he was able to chart his addiction struggles through his appearance on the program.
“I didn’t watch the show, and I didn’t watch the show because I might start drinking…opiates…drinking…cocaine,” he said. “Like I could see what I looked like season after season.”
Perry called the program – which also features Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer – “an incredible ride.”
He added: ‘It was incredible to see how it touched the hearts of different generations. It’s become something important, and I, you know, I would look at that again. It was really funny, and all the people were nice.”
Perry appeared on the hit series for ten seasons, from 1994 to 2004. He has also appeared in a number of films during his career, including 1997’s Fools Rush In, 2000’s The Whole Nine Yards and 2009’s 17 Again.
Brennan doubled down on his sentiments in a tweet responding to reports of his controversy
Brennan was torn by commentators who took offense to his comments on social media about Perry’s death
The Friends actor, who played Chandler Bing on the NBC hit, struggled with substance abuse throughout his life and said he wanted to help others dealing with a similar situation. Pictured in LA last April
Perry appeared on the hit series Friends for ten seasons, from 1994 to 2004
On Saturday, TMZ reported that first responders were called to Perry’s home to treat cardiac arrest. No foul play was suspected in the actor’s death, sources told the outlet.
Friends creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane, and the show’s executive producer Kevin Bright, released a statement saying, “We will always cherish the joy, light and blinding intelligence he brought to every moment – not just in his work, but also in his work. life too.
“He was always the funniest person in the room. In fact, he was the sweetest, with a giving and selfless heart.”
Warner Bros. released a statement after Perry’s death, saying: “We are devastated by the passing of our dear friend Matthew Perry. Matthew was an incredibly gifted actor and an indelible part of the Warner Bros. Television Group family.
“The impact of his comedic genius was felt around the world, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of so many. This is a heartbreaking day and we send our love to his family, his loved ones and all his devoted fans.”