Matthew Perry’s slapdown of Peter Hitchins over addiction is incredibly moving and supremely satisfying all at the same time
The sad death of Matthew Perry aged just 54 was announced at the weekend and it sent all sort of clips of the Friends star viral.
But as well as being known to everyone as Chandler Bing, he was also of course an addict, the ‘big terrible thing’ of the title of his autobiography.
Here he is in his own words, shared by actress Mira Sorvino on Twitter.
I want to leave Matthew Perry’s own words here as the way we remember him. There will never be another like him- he lit up so many hearts in so many ways. Godspeed to Paradise! pic.twitter.com/rUYSeD7tW0
— Mira Sorvino (@MiraSorvino) October 29, 2023
And we mention it because among all the favourite Friends moments that went viral, there was also this exchange – on the subject of addiction – from Newsnight back in 2013, featuring Perry and Daily Mail columnist, Peter Hitchens.
It’s a very moving and important watch, and a supremely satisfying one too.
Matthew Perry debating the topic of addiction with a dismissive Peter Hitchens in 2013 pic.twitter.com/LdtU8NE4p6
— Jay (@JibbaJabb) October 29, 2023
And here are just a few of the things people were saying about it today.
“Not that your aspirin point wasn’t genius, but you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Matthew Perry debating the topic of addiction with a dismissive Peter Hitchens in 2013 pic.twitter.com/rSYvevWaa4
— Secret Drug Addict (@ScrtDrugAddict) October 29, 2023
Peter Hitchens at his sneering, superior, patronising, and utterly fact free best. What a complete empathy vacuum the man is. https://t.co/7T5BXK9v7D
— Spooky Snigdha (@snigskitchen) October 29, 2023
Another brother in recovery gone but I will always remember the fire in the belly versus the arrogance rip Perry https://t.co/z9g8nolQir
— Longwell Records (@LongwellRecords) October 29, 2023
It’s unfair that one of the first things I think of when I think of Matthew Perry is him dealing with an utter arse, but he comes across so well, and it really points out the poor state of guests British news programmes bring out in the name of balance. https://t.co/0TL11MBnyA
— Chris Brosnahan (@ChrisBrosnahan) October 29, 2023
“you’re just a person who’s talking who’s wrong” ❤️ https://t.co/9EgBQp9UD1
— Steven Poole (@stevenpoole) October 29, 2023
Not far off half a million Americans have died from opioid overdoses and addictions – since this interview.
Peter Hitchens believes all of that was a choice. https://t.co/q6nuS55yTp— richard bacon (@richardpbacon) October 29, 2023
Hitchens himself also appeared to reference the exchange on Twitter, but unfortunately there’s not enough space on the internet to include it.
Quite extraordinary how consistently Peter Hitchens makes a total arse of himself. https://t.co/LsP56og6hW
— Dom Joly (@domjoly) October 30, 2023
Last words to the great man.
“The best thing about me, bar none, is if somebody comes up to me and says I can’t stop drinking, can you help me? I can yes and follow up and do it. And when I die I don’t want Friends to be the 1st thing that’s mentioned, I want that to be the 1st thing that’s mentioned” pic.twitter.com/y8sK7OxRr4
— Secret Drug Addict (@ScrtDrugAddict) October 29, 2023
RIP Matthew Perry.
Source @JibbaJabb
