EXCLUSIVE: Matthew Perry's 'TV Nemesis' Hits Back at Critics for Dismissing His Addictions as Weakness
Nov. 7 2026, Published 6:00 p.m. ET
Journalist and commentator Peter Hitchens has reignited his bitter dispute with the late Friends star Matthew Perry, claiming the actor might still be alive if he had accepted his famous argument overcoming drug and alcohol problems ultimately depended on personal willpower.
RadarOnline.com can reveal the 75-year-old columnist – dubbed Perry’s "TV nemesis" – faced widespread criticism after infamously challenging Perry during a heated appearance on BBC's Newsnight in December 2013.
Television Confrontation And Debate Over Addiction As A Disease
Perry, who died aged 54 in October 2023, had spoken openly about his struggles with addiction and was campaigning for greater use of specialist drug courts in Britain.
On Newsnight, he claimed addiction was a disease and an "allergy" of the body and mind that kicked in after one drink was taken.
The pair clashed when Hitchens asked questions including: "What is this allergy?"
Writing in a fresh defense of his position, Hitchens said: "My crime, before the court of modish public opinion, was to say that (P...