Before his heartbreaking passing, Matthew Perry made a choice on the set of Friends that forever changed television history — refusing to film a storyline that would have seen Chandler Bing cheat on Monica Geller. Now, more than two decades later, that decision is being remembered as one of the defining moments that preserved the integrity of one of TV’s most beloved couples.
According to resurfaced interviews and behind-the-scenes accounts shared by entertainment outlets, writers once considered introducing a plot where Chandler drunkenly hooks up with another woman during a work trip. But Perry flat-out rejected the idea. “He said absolutely not,” a former crew member recalled. “He thought the audience would never forgive him — and honestly, he was right.”
“Matthew Perry refused to let Chandler cheat on Monica — he said it would ruin the show.” @PopBase
Fans of the show will remember how deeply loved Chandler and Monica’s relationship became after its surprise reveal in the London episodes. The bond between the sarcastic commitment-phobe and the perfectionist chef quickly grew into one of television’s most stable and heartfelt romances — something Perry reportedly fought to protect. “He told the writers it would destroy Chandler’s entire character arc,” one writer told reporters. “He wanted viewers to believe that people like Chandler could grow and change.”
That commitment to authenticity, according to insiders, wasn’t just professional — it was personal. Perry, who had publicly battled addiction and mental health struggles, was deeply aware of the moral compass his character provided to millions of fans. “He understood the weight of what that relationship meant,” said one former producer to a culture desk. “He didn’t want to tarnish something that gave people hope.”
Fans rediscovered the story after an unearthed clip from a BBC interview circulated on X, where Perry laughed as he recalled being protective over Chandler. “There was a scene once where they wanted him to do something really out of character, and I said no. I couldn’t do that to Monica,” he said, smiling shyly. “The audience trusted us — I couldn’t break that.”
“He said: ‘Chandler would never do that.’ He protected Monica — and the audience.” @PopCrave
Writers quickly rewrote the storyline, reportedly swapping out the potential cheating scene for a more lighthearted subplot. “It was a rare moment where an actor completely changed the writers’ minds,” a former showrunner told a Hollywood journalist. “He wasn’t being difficult — he was being right.”
Fans today are calling Perry’s decision “a gift” that kept Friends emotionally grounded. Social media has flooded with tributes, with one viral post reading: “He saved the one relationship that made us believe in love.” Another added, “He wasn’t just playing Chandler. He understood him better than anyone.”
“The chemistry between him and Courteney Cox was so pure,” one longtime fan wrote on Reddit. “If Chandler had cheated, that magic would’ve been gone forever.” Others pointed out that Perry’s performance in later seasons — balancing humor with emotional depth — helped turn Chandler into one of the most respected sitcom characters ever written.
“Matthew Perry didn’t just act — he defended his character’s soul.” @buzzingpop
Even Courteney Cox herself once hinted at how much Perry cared about their on-screen relationship. In a past interview with entertainment reporters, she called him “protective and precise,” adding that he often fought for dialogue or moments that made the couple more real. “He always wanted Chandler to love Monica the way people dream of being loved — completely, without irony,” she said.
The bond between the two actors endured off-screen as well. Following Perry’s death in 2023, Cox posted a tearful tribute, recalling how grateful she was for their years together. “He made me laugh every single day,” she wrote. “And he always reminded me that Monica and Chandler were supposed to end up together.”
For longtime fans, Perry’s quiet act of defiance against that cheating plot now feels even more profound. “He wasn’t just preserving a TV romance,” one user wrote on TikTok. “He was preserving the idea that people can change — that love can heal.”
“He knew the audience needed Chandler to stay faithful — and he made sure he did.” @PopTingz
More than twenty years later, the legacy of that decision remains. Chandler and Monica’s relationship continues to be celebrated as one of television’s greatest love stories — built not only on clever writing, but on Matthew Perry’s own sense of morality, heart, and deep respect for the characters he helped bring to life.
“He gave Chandler integrity,” a fan wrote under a tribute post on Instagram. “And in doing so, he gave us all a little faith in love again.”