Emmys Producers Explain Why Friends Cast Didn't Reunite at 2023 Memorium
The 2023 Emmy Awards paid homage to all the actors, stars, and entertainers who had died during the year, including Friends star Matthew Perry. However, fans noticed that the cast was not in attendance. Here's why.
Remembering Matthew Perry: A Tribute to the Friends Star
The 2023 Emmy Awards paid homage to all the actors, stars, and entertainers who had died during the year, including Friends star Matthew Perry. Perry, infamous among TV fans for his role as Chandler Bing in the sitcom Friends, was well-loved as the comedic friend who had trouble committing to relationships. However, he found his soulmate in Monica, his character's love interest. The actor had a formidable career outside Friends but had his own battles off-screen. Perry's shocking death on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54, stunned global fans and the cast of Friends.
Perry's passing was a loss felt deeply by his fans and colleagues, and the 2023 Emmys honored the actor as part of their yearly memorium. However, fans noticed the absence of the Friends cast at the event, raising questions about why they didn't reunite to honor the late actor. This led to the Emmy producers providing an explanation for their absence.
The Emmy Producers' Decision
The producers of the Emmys discussed their decision not to reunite the Friends cast at the award show to honor the late actor. They cited the timing of Perry's death and the need for the cast to mourn in private before addressing the public. Each cast member took their time to mourn before publicly paying tribute to Perry on social media.
The Emmy producers shared that it is not uncommon for them to invite the cast members who worked with a late actor to say kind words or appear in commemoration during the memorium. However, in this case, they decided against reuniting the Friends cast. Jeannae Rouzan-Clay and Jesse Collins, among others, expressed understanding and respect for the cast's need to grieve privately before considering a public reunion.
Honoring Matthew Perry at the Emmys
The Emmy memorium segment included stars like Norman Lear, Bob Barker, Paul Reubens, and Treat Williams. Perry's picture closed out the segment as Charlie Puth sang 'See You Again' into an acapella version of the Friends theme song 'I'll Be There For You.' The decision to include Perry in the memorium and pay tribute to him through a performance of the Friends theme song highlighted the impact of his role in the iconic sitcom and the significance of his contribution to television.
