Nearly a month after five individuals, including two doctors, were charged in connection with Matthew Perry’s death from a ketamine overdose, TMZ Studios is set to unveil a new documentary shedding light on a purported celebrity drug ring in Hollywood.
The documentary, titled TMZ Investigates: Matthew Perry and the Secret Celebrity Drug Ring, will air Monday, Sept. 16, at 9/8c on FOX and will be available for streaming on Hulu. The hour-long episode promises to delve into the roles of drug dealers, complicit enablers, unethical doctors, and questionable rehab centers, according to an online description of the program.
The documentary features interviews with prominent figures such as Dr. Terry Dubrow from Botched, TV personality Kelly Osbourne, and former DEA agent Bill Bodner. In a preview clip released by FOX, Bodner discusses the troubling influence of financial incentives and celebrity allure on drug-related issues.
“When there’s money to be made or the potential lure of celebrity, that’s what drives these actions outside of ethical bounds,” Bodner explains in the clip, addressing the intersection of fame and drug abuse.
Matthew Perry, 54, known for his role as Chandler Bing on Friends, died on Oct. 28, 2023, from an accidental drug overdose. Perry was discovered unresponsive in his jacuzzi at his Los Angeles home after receiving three shots of ketamine that day. The official autopsy report confirmed Perry’s death resulted from acute ketamine effects, with contributing factors including drowning, coronary artery disease, and buprenorphine—a medication used for treating opioid use disorder.
The Los Angeles Police Department launched an investigation into Perry’s death in May 2024. By Aug. 15, charges had been filed against five individuals connected to the distribution of the ketamine that led to Perry’s demise. Federal prosecutors alleged that Perry, who had openly discussed his struggles with addiction, was exploited by the defendants and relapsed into drug use before his death.
Among those charged are Dr. Mark Chavez and Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who were both involved in Perry’s ketamine treatments. Kenneth Imawasa, Perry’s live-in assistant, and Erik Fleming, an acquaintance who facilitated drug transactions, were also charged. Chavez and Imawasa have either pleaded guilty or reached agreements to plead guilty. Dr. Plasencia and Jasveen Sangha, the remaining defendants, have pleaded not guilty.
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In a recent court appearance, Dr. Mark Chavez, who has been dubbed the “ketamine doctor,” was seen leaving the Roybal Federal Courthouse in Los Angeles on Aug. 30, 2024. The charges against the defendants allege they sought to exploit Perry’s addiction for profit, with Chavez and Plasencia among those accused of providing the ketamine that contributed to the actor’s fatal overdose.
Perry, who had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy at the time of his death, had previously discussed his battle with addiction in his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. Perry had expressed his hope that sharing his experiences would help others struggling with similar issues.
“I wanted to share when I was safe from going into the dark side again,” Perry told PEOPLE for a 2022 cover story. “I had to wait until I was pretty safely sober—and away from the active disease of alcoholism and addiction—to write it all down. I was pretty certain that it would help people if I did.”
TMZ Investigates: Matthew Perry and the Secret Celebrity Drug Ring premieres Monday, Sept. 16, at 9/8c on FOX and will be available for streaming on Hulu. The documentary aims to provide a deeper look into the alleged drug ring that may have played a role in Perry’s tragic death.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, help is available through the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
