Matthew Perry’s former girlfriend René Ashton has shared a surprising memory from their relationship. She recently recalled a trip that included the late actor and Bruce Willis. The experience left Ashton with a cheeky story to tell years later. She opened up about the adventure in a new documentary about Perry’s life.
René Ashton recalls mile-high encounter with Matthew Perry
Ashton shared the story in Netflix’s three-part documentary, The One About Matthew Perry. She recalled that Willis invited her and Perry to Turks and Caicos before Perry filmed The Whole Nine Yards. Willis also brought his girlfriend at the time on the trip. Ashton said Perry felt thrilled about flying on the Die Hard star’s private plane.
“He’s like, ‘Bruce wants us to go on his private plane. Bruce wants me to share a plane with him,’” Ashton recalled. When asked by a producer about the flight, Ashton replied in a playful manner. “I joined a club,” she said, hinting that she and Perry joined the mile-high club. She described the vacation as “pretty amazing.”
Ashton said the trip felt relaxing because they did not have to deal with paparazzi. “There weren’t any paparazzi there, so it was a nice, normal and fun trip,” she shared. She also spoke warmly about Perry, saying she was “in love” with the Friends star. Ashton added that he was “at the core, good people.”
Ashton and Perry dated for about a year in 1999 before ending their relationship in December that year. In October 2023, authorities discovered Perry in his hot tub and he passed away at the age of 54. A coroner’s report listed the acute effects of ketamine as the main cause of death, with drowning, coronary artery disease and buprenorphine effects also contributing.
Ashton’s memories offer another glimpse into Perry’s life beyond his best-known roles. Her story recalls a lighter moment from their time together, years before his death. It offers a glimpse into the personality behind the popular TV actor.
