Is This The Reason Matthew Perry's Speech Was Slurred At The Friends Reunion?

With the "Friends" reunion special airing this week on May 27 on HBO Max, fans of the beloved sitcom are practically buzzing with anticipation. Meanwhile, the cast has been doing promos ahead of the special's release, including a video interview with People, in which they reflect on their time on the show and the personal friendships between cast members that have lasted throughout the years. Fans most excited for the reunion have likely been devouring all the "Friends" reunion content they can get, which is why many of them noticed something ... off.

The interview with People, which is about eight minutes long, features all six of the original cast members — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer. However, of the six cast members, Perry seemed to talk the least, remaining quiet for the most part and often looking down or away. While his castmates seem jovial and animated, Perry's demeanor is more subdued. From what little he did contribute, his speech seemed to be off, slowed down, and somewhat slurred. Fans picked up on these details right away, and began speculating about the actor's health.

Knowing that Perry has a history with substance abuse — including during his stint on "Friends" — fans in the YouTube comments expressed their concern about Perry possibly having recently relapsed, or that he might be experiencing depression related to his recovery. One commenter named Felipe wrote, "I just wanna hug him and thank him for all the laughter he's responsible for till this very day and say how special he is." 

Another user, Life in 1984, expressed similar sentiments, writing, "I wish Matthew Perry so much solace and peace, he's been through so much and I really appreciate him doing this appearance for us. What a blessing to have them all together." 

The top comment on the video, from user rip, reads, "I wish we could make Perry as happy as he's made all of us."

Fortunately, the cause of Perry's slurred speech and mild demeanor is reportedly not related to his addiction, but rather an unrelated medical issue. Here's what we know.