Hinge Hullabaloo: Teri Hatcher Recalls Matthew Perry's Final Message

Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher has revealed a poignant anecdote about her late co-star Matthew Perry, shedding light on their shared experience with dating app Hinge. The revelation comes over a year after Perry's sudden death at the age of 54.

In October 2023, Perry was found unresponsive at his home, with a subsequent investigation attributing his passing to the effects of ketamine, a dissociative anaesthetic often used for depression and pain management. Perry's passing sparked an outpouring of tributes from fellow celebrities, particularly his Friends co-stars, who shared numerous anecdotes about their time spent with the beloved actor.

In a recent interview with The Telegraph, Hatcher, who also worked alongside Perry in a revival of the classic sitcom The Odd Couple, shared a previously undisclosed interaction they had regarding their Hinge experiences.

Hatcher, now 59, revealed that she and Perry "maintained a relationship over the years", which often included exchanging messages about their respective lives. It was during one such exchange, a year before Perry's death, that they discovered a shared predicament: both had been banned from the dating app Hinge for seemingly being too good to be true.

"We would text each other a few times a year and, well, I've never told anybody this story but it was probably a year before he died that I got thrown off of the dating app Hinge because the app thought I was pretending to be myself," Hatcher told The Telegraph. "I posted about that on Twitter and I got a text from Matthew. He said: 'I got kicked off of Hinge too! What the heck are both of us doing on Hinge anyway?' I thought: Yeah! What are we doing there?!"

Hatcher had previously shared her Hinge experience during an appearance on HSN's Getting Grilled With Curtis Stone in January, revealing that she had filed a complaint with Hinge and requested a refund. In response, the Hinge team issued a public apology via X (formerly Twitter) on 10th December 2021, stating, "We're so sorry, Teri! Some people thought you were too good to be true." They even encouraged Hatcher to email them with the subject line "Jerry Missed Out," promising to "make this right."

Hinge subsequently implemented a "Selfie Verification" feature in 2022, requiring subscribers to provide a video selfie for verification purposes, which is then cross-referenced with their profile picture.

Hatcher has since alluded to giving up on dating apps altogether, citing her contentment with her current life. "I have a really full life, a really busy life," she shared during the HSN interview. "I have beautiful friends. It's fine: I don't need a man. I have a cat."

Despite her own dating app woes, Hatcher has found solace in revisiting the iconic sitcom Friends since Perry's passing, as she confessed to The Telegraph. "I think that man was just brilliant, a comedic genius," she said. "He has gone way too soon and he was always wonderful to work with. We had this cool intermittent, supportive relationship behind the scenes so I hope he always knew that I was there for him."

Hatcher's recollection of Perry's final message offers a poignant glimpse into their bond and highlights the impact that Perry continues to have on those who knew and admired him. The anecdote serves as a reminder of the enduring legacy of a talented actor who brought laughter and joy to millions worldwide.