‘Friends’ star Matthew Perry slammed for ‘bad taste’ with COVID merchandise
Chandler Bing’s bling is leaving a sting.
“Friends” star Matthew Perry touted more merchandise Monday ahead of this week’s HBO Max reunion special. But some fans seem less than pleased that the 51-year-old actor is modeling a black T-shirt emblazoned with the Chandler-emphatic question, “Could I be any more vaccinated?”
After he posted the image to Twitter and Instagram, fans called him out for blithely linking the reunion with vaccinations during the coronavirus pandemic, which has recorded more than 167 million cases and topped 3.4 million deaths worldwide.
“Making money from a t-shirt relating to vaccines is in bad taste. Could I BE any more annoyed,” responded one commenter, while another said simply, “i love you but this tshirt is not it haha.” One respondent dryly noted, “Just propaganda machines for life huh? That’s all celebs are anymore.”
Could I BE Any More Vaccinated? Get your shot and then get your shirt. Shop the entire collection at https://t.co/WzJDsPVqFX Only available for a limited time pic.twitter.com/M2G8hbNV23
— matthew perry (@MatthewPerry) May 24, 2021
Others chipped away at Perry’s marketing efforts on Instagram — where his post was “liked” by his “Friends” castmate Jennifer Aniston — saying, “they are monetizing their sudden rise in popularity because of the reunion. Just capitalism at work here, nothing new.” And another simply asked, “Why would I give a multi millionaire even more money?”
A representative for HBO Max declined to comment and instead referred The Post to Perry’s publicist, who didn’t immediately respond to a request for a statement.
The limited-edition, unisex fitted shirt sells for $26.99 at Perry’s Represent.com online store, where the description encourages vaccinated fans: “Now back out into the world!!….or stay in and binge-watch Friends again! :)”
Last week, Perry debuted the line of merchandise, which includes sweatshirts as well as items for kids and pets, starting at $14.99 on up. The newly opened shop debuted on the heels of a trailer for the “Friends: The Reunion” special, which will premiere Thursday, May 27, on HBO Max.
In the special, series stars Perry, Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer will regroup, along with special guests, for a fun-filled — and perhaps tear-filled, judging from interactions between Aniston and Perry especially — get-together on the rebuilt set of Monica and Rachel’s purple-walled New York City apartment.
![This shirt in Matthew Perry's online store is offending some "Friends" fans.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/05/matthew-perry-gear-370.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=682)