Director Ben Winston wishes that fans and viewers of the reunion special wouldn't be so harsh on the actor.
While watching the six stars return to our screens over the past weekend, for 'Friends: The Reunion', Matthew Perry was a talking point for some viewers.
While there was a lot of love shared online regarding the actor's troubled past with drugs and alcohol, concerns were raised about the actor's well-being by others. People branded him as looking "dazed" or having slurred speech. However, before the special aired, it was revealed Matthew underwent emergency dental surgery hours before the episode was filmed.
Speaking about the fan reaction of 'Friends: The Reunion' and Matthew Perry, director Ben Winston told The Hollywood Reporter that he "loved working with him" and that people can be "unkind". Before 'Friends: The Reunion', Ben had never worked with all six actors together - he works closely with James Corden on his late night show.
He said: "He (Perry) was great. People can sometimes be unkind. I wish they weren't. I loved working with him. He's a brilliantly funny man and I thought he had some great one-liners in the show. I felt just happy and lucky to be in his presence and directing him on something like this."
Before 'Friends: The Reunion', Ben had never worked with all six actors together - he works closely with James Corden on his late night show.
Executive producer of 'Friends' Kevin Bright also told THR that Matthew Perry was "very funny" on the special, and his health seems to have improved compared to the last time he had seen him: "What people say is what people say. I don’t have any[thing] to say about that, except it was great to see him. And I think he’s very funny on the show.
"I think he’s okay. He seems stronger and better since the last time I saw him, and excited about going forward."
