Keanu Reeves attacked for still being alive
Matthew Perry has backtracked on his insensitive comments questioning why beloved Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves is still alive.
In his memoir Friends, Lovers And The Big Terrible Thing, the Friends star questioned why his friend River Phoenix died but Reeves didn’t.
“Why is it that the original thinkers like River Phoenix and Heath Ledger die, but Keanu Reeves still walks among us?” he wrote.
Perry was discussing his friendship with River Phoenix - who is also friends with Reeves - and about the heartache he had when he overdosed on drugs in 1993 at the age of 23.
He called Phoenix his “closest friend of that era” before attacking Reeves for still being alive.
Social media was in uproar at his comments with many questioning why Perry would wish death upon anyone.
“In a world full of Matthew Perry’s… be a Keanu Reeves,” someone wrote.
“Of all the people in Hollywood, there’s absolutely no reason to come for Keanu Reeves who even after personal tragedy has remained, by accounts, generous and kind. He just makes movies and comics, treats his cast and crew right, and minds his own business,” another wrote.
“Imagine coming for Keanu Reeves like that. Might as well let the internet know you think all kittens should be drowned at birth. Good luck out there, man,” someone else commented.
Perry eventually came out and apologised and explained he was “actually a big fan” of Keanu Reeves.
“I'm actually a big fan of Keanu,” he said.
“I just chose a random name, my mistake. I apologize. I should have used my own name instead.”
Images: Getty