Entertainment reporter Athena Crosby sheds light on her last encounter with Matthew Perry, which happened the day before his death.
Crosby, 25, was photographed dining with Friends an actor at the Bel-Air Hotel. Of the experience, the model and actress told TMZ that Perry was in “extremely good spirits” at the time as he “talked enthusiastically about things that came up in his life.”
“He was so happy and lively,” she recalled, noting that they weren’t on a date and were simply friends who had met a few months ago through mutual friends.
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Perry died at his home in Los Angeles on Saturday after apparently drowning. The star, who was 54 years old, was best known for his role as Chandler Bing Friends for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004.
Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
Crosby is among those who have shared tributes to Perry on social media since he died, posting a photo An odd couple alum on his Instagram Story on Tuesday with the caption, “Rest in peace my friend.”
Athena Crosby shared an Instagram Story tribute to Matthew Perry.
Athena Crosby/Instagram
“I didn’t want to talk about this, but what I will say is that I had the honor of knowing Matthew personally,” she continued. “I’m so devastated by his death, but I think it’s distasteful to talk about it publicly because the focus shouldn’t be on me, but on him and his legacy, and he was an extremely private person and I’ve always respected that in our friendship. But indeed, we were friends and I was one of the last people to speak to him and see him before he died.”
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Crosby then posted a black-and-white video of her opening her copy of Perry’s 2022 memoir. Friends, lovers and the big scary thingwhich contained a handwritten note calling her his “number 1 girlfriend”.
Athena Crosby shared a note Matthew Perry wrote for her in a copy of his 2022 memoir.
Athena Crosby/Instagram
Crosby then encouraged people to “check out his amazing and inspiring book,” asking her followers to “remember to be nice to everyone no matter what they’re going through” because “everyone’s just doing their best.”
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Matthew Perry was pictured posing with his memoir on an Instagram page dedicated to him by Athena Crosby.
Athena Crosby/Instagram
Crosby also urged anyone reading her post to “please refrain from any speculation surrounding his death and know that the man is coming back and that he truly deserved more time on this earth.”
“Our entertainment industry has truly lost a legend,” she added. “RIP 🕊️❤️”
In an additional video on her Instagram Story on Wednesday, Crosby explained why she came forward with her story, saying she simply wanted to share Perry’s legacy in a “positive and respectful way.”
She also dismissed rumors that she was seeking fame or capitalizing on Perry’s death, explaining that she met him on Friday and that someone had photographed them “without her knowledge or consent” so she felt compelled to set the record straight.
“I’m only here to testify about his mental state before he died,” she said, adding that the actor seemed “quite normal and fine.”
“He left such an important legacy. He was very positive the day before and that’s why I decided to speak,” she added.
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Friends, lovers and the big scary thing it is now available wherever books are sold.
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