Matthew Perry has issued an apology for the comments he made regarding fellow actor Keanu Reeves.
In an excerpt from his new memoir - Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing - the 53-year-old sitcom legend questioned why Keanu Reeves "still walks among us" when other actors Perry believes are "original thinkers" have died.
The excerpt, which was published by Page Six on October 25, reads: "Why is it that the original thinkers like River Phoenix and Heath Ledger die, but Keanu Reeves still walks among us?"
"River was a beautiful man inside and out and too beautiful for this world, it turned out. It always seems to be the really talented guys who go down," Perry adds.
Perry - who has been candidly open about his battles with addiction in his new book and his recent interview with Diane Sawyer - starred alongside Phoenix back in 1988 in the Friends star's first movie, A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon. The two are said to have become good friends while working together.
Sadly, in 1993, Phoenix passed away from an overdose at the age of 23.
Heath Ledger, known for his roles in movies like The Dark Knight and Brokeback Mountain, died of an accidental overdose of medications in 2008.
Oddly enough, Perry references Reeves a second time while discussing the untimely death of SNL legend Chris Farley.
After recalling how he "punched a hole through Jennifer Aniston’s dressing room wall" after learning that Farley had died aged 33, Perry then writes: Keanu Reeves walks among us."
Understandably - and considering the adoration fans have for Reeves - Perry's comments did not go down well on social media.
One Twitter user responded by writing: "Matthew Perry dumping on Keanu Reeves is a joke. Keanu has had his series of personal tragedies (death of [fiancée], unborn child, sister dying of cancer, etc.) yet he rises above it to be a kind and generous human being. And then there’s Matthew Perry who’s a self-indulgent tool".
A second added: "Matthew Perry is getting dragged for basically asking why Keanu Reeves is still alive when other actors have died far too young. He must not have realized how well loved Keanu is. That man has experienced so much loss in his life. He's also one of the kindest and humble people."
Now, speaking to Deadline, Perry has issued an apology for the comments and attempted to offer clarification.
In a statement to the outlet, Perry said: "I’m actually a big fan of Keanu. I just chose a random name, my mistake. I apologize. I should have used my own name instead."
Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing is due to be released on November 1.