Matthew Perry’s struggle with ketamine addiction may have been deeply connected to a painful breakup years ago, according to claims made by one of his former girlfriends and assistant, Katyi Edwards.
Edwards, who dated Perry in 2006, believes that his split from Rachel Dunn, whom she describes as “the love of his life,” triggered his return to substance abuse.
The Relationship: A love that kept him sober
Perry, known for his relationships with high-profile actresses like Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Cameron Diaz, reportedly found a deeper connection with Rachel Dunn. The two dated for around two years, and according to Edwards, Rachel played a crucial role in keeping Perry sober during their time together.
“Matthew was not doing drugs when he was with Rachel,” Edwards told The Mirror. She believes that Rachel’s presence in his life helped keep him grounded. However, after their breakup, Perry’s addiction issues resurfaced. “It seems like after he broke up with her, that’s when I noticed the addiction in full gear,” Edwards explained.
Edwards also shared that Perry lived with deep regret following his breakup with Rachel. She described their relationship as “very simple” and noted that Rachel loved Perry before his rise to fame. “He just spiralled afterwards,” Edwards said, adding that Rachel, who was 14 years younger than Perry, was truly the love of his life. “He was happy, content” during their relationship, she emphasized.
A missed opportunity: Marriage and milestones unfulfilled
Perry’s desire to settle down was evident, according to Edwards. She revealed that Perry had longed to marry Rachel and struggled with the realization that certain milestones, like marriage and having children, had passed him by. “I think that he regrets not marrying her… I know that he wanted kids, and I think that he struggled with time flying by,” she stated.
Edwards believes that the breakup was a critical turning point in Perry’s life, one that exacerbated his addiction. “They say everybody has a kind of trigger or turning point in their addiction where you just didn’t care anymore? And I’m pretty sure that breakup kind of started it,” she told the outlet.
Perry had publicly acknowledged his love for Rachel in a 2004 interview, expressing how she changed his perspective on commitment. “With Rachel in my life, I know that I can be very committed and not some selfish guy,” he said at the time.
Matthew Perry was found dead at his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023, having drowned due to an overdose. His death has sparked an investigation, with five people charged in connection to the tragic event. The revelations about his past struggles and unfulfilled dreams cast a sombre light on the life of the beloved actor who captured hearts as Chandler Bing but battled personal demons off-screen.