Matthew Perry's mother blasts former assistant investigated for actor's overdose

Matthew Perry's mother said her son "paid dearly" for trusting his former assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who was being investigated for allegedly giving the "Friends" actor ketamine before his death in October 2023.

Suzanne Morrison spared no criticism of the former employee in an impact statement presented before the hearing that will define the former assistant's sentence. Kenneth, 60, pleaded guilty to participating in a scheme to distribute the powerful anesthetic that led to the actor's fatal overdose, who was found dead in the hot tub of his home in Los Angeles, United States.

In the document, Suzanne stated that the former assistant should have been an ally in the artist's fight against drug addiction.

"Instead of protecting Matthew, he aided and abetted the illegal use of drugs, organized one supply channel and then another. He injected the drugs into Matthew's body, even though he had no qualifications to do so."

"He did it even though he knew, as anyone would know, how obviously dangerous it was. And he did it repeatedly."

The star's mother also alleged that, after Matthew's death, Kenneth tried to get closer to her and maintained a constant presence in her routine.

"He sent me songs, drew a little map to help me find my way around the cemetery. If he saw a rainbow - one of Matthew's favorite things - he called me... He stuck to me like he was the good guy who tried to save Matthew... We trusted an unscrupulous man and my son paid the price."

Throughout her testimony, Suzanne thanked investigators for their work on the case, but made it clear that "there is no end to a loss like this."

"Nothing takes away this pain, nor will it, I'm sure, as long as I live", he said.

Matthew Perry died at the age of 54 due to the acute effects of ketamine, according to the report released months after his death.

His assistant reached a deal with the prosecution by admitting guilt on charges linked to the supply of the drug. He could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison, although US prosecutors recommended a sentence of 41 months in prison, plus three years of probation. The hearing that will define the sentence is scheduled for May 27th.

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Source: CNN