Matthew Perry's 'Friends' Airport Security Joke Was Cut Weeks After 9/11

Matthew Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on 'Friends,' had a scene deleted from the show after he made a joke about airport security just weeks after the horrific attacks on September 11. 

The 54-year-old actor, who was found unresponsive in his hot tub on October 28, 2023, made many fans laugh thanks to his iconic role as Chandler, but what many may not realize, is one of his jokes was cut from the show as it was bad timing with the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers.

In an episode of 'Friends', Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) are in an airport about to go through security when Monica is taking off every little thing, so she doesn't set off the metal detectors.

That is when Chandler's line comes in.

"Hey look at that, Federal Law prohibits any joking regarding aircraft highjacking or bombing," Chandler says as he reads a sign on the metal detector.

"You don't have to worry about me ma'am, I take my bombs very seriously," Chandler then says to the airport security guard.

A security guard is then seen coming into the frame and dragging Chandler saying, "Sir, come with me."

The issue with the scene is that the episode was scheduled to air two weeks after September 11 occurred so producers cut the scene.

Police responded to a 911 call to assist with a possible ‘water rescue’ at Matthew Perry’s Pacific Palisades home on October 28. When the first responders arrived, they reportedly found the 54-year-old “Friends” actor in his hot tub, unresponsive.

Perry is believed to have drowned, but an autopsy and toxicology reports will be able to answer more questions about his true cause of death. Prescription anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications were reportedly found in Matthew Perry‘s home following his tragic death, although sources say that no illegal narcotics were discovered at the scene.

After the world learned of Perry's death, fans visited the 'Friends' apartment building and made a memorial to pay their tributes to the late star. Flowers, photos, and notes were laid on the sidewalk, sharing memories and laughs to remember the iconic Chandler Bing actor.

While filming the hit television show ‘Friends’, Jennifer Aniston, who portrayed Rachel Green on the show, apparently approached Perry “in a kind of weird but loving way,” confronting him about smelling booze on his breath. However, it wasn't only her that noticed that the actor smelled of alcohol during his scenes.

“I know you’re drinking,” she told Perry, per, his memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.”

“‘We can smell it,’” she added. But what devastated him was “the plural, as she said, 'we'” — that “hit me like a sledgehammer,” he said.

“‘I know I’m drinking too much,’ I said, ‘but I don’t exactly know what to do about it,’” he recalled telling his co-star at the time.

Perry passed away on October 28 after he was found unresponsive in his hot tub. An autopsy and toxicology report will be able to answer more questions about his cause of death.