- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid tribute to his former school friend Matthew Perry.
- Perry once said that he beat up Trudeau in elementary school in Canada.
- The beloved "Friends" actor died at his LA home, aged 54, on Saturday.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid tribute to his former school friend Matthew Perry, who died on Saturday aged 54.
"Matthew Perry's passing is shocking and saddening," Trudeau wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"I'll never forget the schoolyard games we used to play, and I know people around the world are never going to forget the joy he brought them. Thanks for all the laughs, Matthew. You were loved – and you will be missed."
Trudeau and Perry attended Rockcliffe Park Public School, an elementary school in Ottawa, Canada. They were three years apart in age.
Perry has previously spoken about his memories of being in school with Trudeau, who he said he once beat up.
While appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2017, Perry said: "I was reminded of this by my friend Chris Murray, who was also in the fifth grade in Canada. He reminded me we actually beat up Justin Trudeau."
"We both beat him up. I think he was excelling in a sport that we weren't, so it was pure jealousy. And we beat him up."
Perry said he was not proud of the memory and he was a "stupid kid."
Trudeau's father, Pierre Trudeau, was the prime minister of Canada at the time, but Perry said that was not the reason he and his friend beat up the younger boy.
After Perry's interview, Trudeau poked fun at the story, writing on X: "I've been giving it some thought, and you know what, who hasn't wanted to punch Chandler? How about a rematch?"
Tributes have poured in after the beloved "Friends" actor was found unresponsive in his hot tub at his Los Angeles-area home, with multiple outlets reporting that his cause of death was drowning.