A popular Australian bar has issued a formal apology following a backlash against an ill-conceived cocktail tribute to the late Friends star Matthew Perry.
The Unley in Parkside found itself in hot water after introducing an $18 cocktail named the “Chandler Bing” in honor of Perry, who tragically passed away at his Los Angeles residence on Sunday.
The cocktail, composed of Southern Comfort, peach schnapps, cranberry juice, fresh lime, and sugar, was introduced as the “cocktail of the month.”
The pub’s Instagram post featured a caption that read: “A tribute to our sarcastic king. We present to you, The Chandler Bing.”
However, this seemingly well-intentioned gesture quickly drew criticism on The Unley’s social media account.
Many reportedly expressed their discomfort, pointing out Perry’s struggle with alcohol addiction, making the tribute insensitive.
One commenter on Instagram wrote: “This feels so wrong considering he battled alcoholism.”
Another stated: “Anyone who’s seen his interviews and read his book would know that Friends was actually not what he wanted to be remembered for, his words, not mine.”
Read more about Matthew Perry’s life and struggles:
Perry had been open about his battles with substance abuse and alcoholism, as documented in his memoir, Friends, Lovers And The Big Terrible Thing, published a year before his passing.
In the memoir, Perry shared that he had his first drink at the tender age of 14 and had attended 6,000 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, as well as undergoing rehab 15 times.
He mentioned during his book promotion he had been sober for 18 months but estimated that he had spent millions in his pursuit of sobriety.
In light of the public’s reaction and recognizing the error in judgment, The Unley has decided to remove the Chandler Bing cocktail from their drinks menu.
In a statement to the Advertiser, the pub expressed its deep regret for any distress the tribute may have caused and emphasized that it intended to honor a beloved actor and icon.
“The cocktail was intended as a tribute to a beloved actor and icon; however, we recognize that this was an error in judgment and have removed the cocktail,” a spokesman from The Unley stated.
“We are deeply regretful of any hurt that this has caused.”
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