Matthew Perry’s Ex René Ashton Confesses to Joining the Mile-High Club on Bruce Willis’ Private Jet During Secret Caribbean Getaway

Late Friends icon Matthew Perry and his former partner René Ashton secretly joined the infamous “mile-high club” whilst flying aboard Hollywood star Bruce Willis’ private plane. The candid revelation emerged from Ashton herself during an appearance in the three-part Netflix documentary series, The One About Matthew Perry.

The mid-air encounter took place shortly before Perry teamed up with Willis to film their hit 2000 comedy The Whole Nine Yards. Invited on a luxury holiday to Turks and Caicos alongside Willis and his then-girlfriend, the couple embraced the rare moment of total privacy away from the flashing cameras of the international press.

René Ashton and Matthew Perry in an archival appearance.

Recalling Perry’s sheer delight at the invitation, Ashton explained that the television star could hardly contain his enthusiasm about travelling alongside the Die Hard heavyweight.

“He’s like, ‘Bruce wants us to go on his private plane. Bruce wants me to share a plane with him,'” Ashton revealed in the documentary. When questioned directly by an off-screen producer about what unfolded in the cabin during the flight, the 56-year-old actress delivered a coy confession: “I joined a club.”

An Island Escape Far Beyond the Paparazzi Lens

For Perry, who spent the late nineties dealing with stratospheric global fame, the secluded Caribbean trip provided a scarce sanctuary. Away from everyday intrusions, the couple could unwind without the omnipresence of tabloid lenses tracking their movements.

Matthew Perry and René Ashton attending The Story of Us premiere.

Ashton described the getaway as “pretty amazing”, noting the liberating absence of external pressures during their stay on the islands.

“There weren’t any paparazzi there, so it was a nice, normal and fun trip,” she shared. She also spoke warmly of her genuine affection for the actor, explaining that she fell deeply in love with him because, at his foundation, he remained “at the core, good people.”

Matthew Perry and Bruce Willis at The Whole Nine Yards premiere.

Behind the Humour: The Deepening Shadows of Addiction

The couple dated for roughly a year throughout 1999, a period that coincided with Perry’s meteoric ascent as Chandler Bing on British and American screens alike. Beneath the surface of Hollywood glitz and spontaneous private jet journeys, however, profound challenges were already taking hold.

Matthew Perry and René Ashton pictured together at an event.

During their courtship, Ashton became increasingly alarmed by Perry’s spiralling dependency on alcohol. The situation grew sufficiently serious that she felt compelled to reach out directly to his father, actor John Bennett Perry, in an attempt to secure support for him.

The Final Chapter of Their 1999 Romance

Despite their bond and fond memories, the strain surrounding Perry’s personal battles eventually fractured the partnership:

• December 1999: The pair officially ended their relationship after approximately twelve months together.
• A Shared Professional Era: The breakup occurred around the same time Perry was completing production alongside Bruce Willis.
• A Lifelong Struggle: The relationship served as an early window into Perry’s decades-long battle with substance dependency.

Rene Ashton and Matthew Perry posing for a photograph.

Representatives for Bruce Willis did not issue a public response regarding the documentary’s disclosures.

The wider entertainment industry was later shaken when Matthew Perry was found unresponsive at his Los Angeles home in October 2023, passing away at the age of 54. An official coroner’s inquiry concluded that the actor died from the “acute effects of ketamine”, with contributing factors listed as drowning, coronary artery disease, and buprenorphine.

Matthew Perry attending the GQ Men of the Year Party.

For audiences across the UK who grew up watching Perry define a generation of sitcom television, Ashton’s memories offer a poignant mixture of reckless youth and heartbreak. They illustrate a vivid snapshot of an era when life moved fast at 30,000 feet, long before the darker realities of addiction took their final toll.

💡 Support services across the UK, including NHS addiction teams and Frank (0300 123 6600), provide free, confidential advice for anyone struggling with alcohol or substance use.

🔍 Perry’s complicated journey continues to spark conversations about the pressures facing screen stars behind closed doors.

👇 What are your fondest memories of Matthew Perry’s work on screen? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: pagesix.com