Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid tribute to his former school friend Matthew Perry, who died on Saturday. Perry was 54.
“Matthew Perry’s passing is shocking and saddening,” Trudeau wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“I’ll never forget the schoolyard games we used to play, and I know people around the world are never going to forget the joy he brought them. Thanks for all the laughs, Matthew. You were loved – and you will be missed.”
Perry previously spoke about his memories of being in school with Trudeau, who he said he once beat up.
While appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2017, Perry said: “I was reminded of this by my friend Chris Murray, who was also in the fifth grade in Canada. He reminded me we actually beat up Justin Trudeau.
“We both beat him up. I think he was excelling in a sport that we weren’t, so it was pure jealousy. And we beat him up.”
Perry said he was not proud of the memory and that he was a “stupid kid.”
Trudeau and Perry attended Rockcliffe Park Public School, an elementary school in Ottawa, Canada. They were three years apart in age.
Trudeau’s father, Pierre Trudeau, was the prime minister of Canada at the time, but Perry said that was not the reason he and his friend beat up the younger boy.
After Perry’s interview, Trudeau poked fun at the story, writing on X: “I’ve been giving it some thought, and you know what, who hasn’t wanted to punch Chandler? How about a rematch?”
Tributes have poured in after authorities found the beloved “Friends” actor unresponsive in his hot tub at his Los Angeles-area home, with multiple outlets reporting that his cause of death was drowning. Law enforcement does not suspect foul play.
Source: Insider
