Matthew Perry’s struggles with addiction have been well-documented over the years, but according to his stepfather, Keith Morrison, there was a shift in his mindset following the release of his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing. In the memoir, Perry opened up about his addiction issues, shedding light on the dark thoughts that had plagued him for so long.

In an interview with People, Morrison, 77, revealed that Perry seemed to have a newfound sense of self-worth after the book tour. “He came back from the tour and he still was pinching himself, [saying] ‘I can’t believe that people actually seem to like me.’ It was brutally out there and he seemed to be at a place where he had finally beaten it,” Morrison shared.

It appears that Perry’s decision to put his struggles out in the open was a deliberate one. Morrison speculated, “Maybe if I say it in public, if I say it in a book, if they remind me of it all the time, maybe I can succeed.” By sharing his story with the world, Perry was not only confronting his demons but also seeking support and accountability from those around him.

“He put it all out there,” Morrison, who is known for his work on Dateline, added. Perry’s willingness to be vulnerable and transparent about his journey towards recovery is a testament to his strength and resilience.