Keith Morrison Reacts to Kenneth Iwamasa’s Sentencing in Matthew Perry Case: ‘Angry Is an Understatement’

Keith Morrison has addressed the sentencing of Matthew Perry’s former live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, in relation to the actor’s tragic death in 2023.

As reported by ABC News, Iwamasa received a 41-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine, which was linked to Perry’s fatal overdose. Perry, famously known for his role on ‘Friends’, was discovered unresponsive in the hot tub of his Los Angeles residence on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54.

Morrison, who serves as Perry’s stepfather and is a correspondent for Dateline NBC, expressed his feelings candidly to reporters outside the Los Angeles federal courthouse following the sentencing. He did not shy away from sharing his emotions regarding the case and its resolution.

“I’m glad it’s done, but to say I’m angry is an understatement,” Morrison stated, according to ABC News.

He emphasized what he perceives as a betrayal of trust, noting that Iwamasa was in a position of responsibility when Perry needed support the most.

“What happens if Matthew gets into any trouble with drugs at all? You call,” Morrison remarked. “Instead, he controlled him by the use of ketamine.”

Court documents and earlier reports indicate that Iwamasa admitted to injecting Perry with ketamine multiple times, including on the day of the actor’s death. He also acknowledged lacking the medical training necessary to administer the drug.

An autopsy later confirmed that Perry’s death was due to the acute effects of ketamine, with additional factors such as drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of prescription medications contributing to the tragedy.

Iwamasa is among several individuals charged in connection with this case. Prosecutors revealed that Perry was supplied ketamine through a larger illegal network. Notably, Jasveen Sangha, known as the “Ketamine Queen,” pleaded guilty to selling the dose that resulted in Perry’s death and received a 15-year prison sentence.

Other individuals have also faced sentencing in related cases. Dr. Salvador Plasencia pleaded guilty to distributing ketamine and was sentenced to 30 months in prison. Dr. Mark Chavez, who previously operated a ketamine clinic, received eight months of home confinement after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges. Another defendant, Erik Fleming, has also been charged in connection with supplying the drug.

Prior to Iwamasa’s sentencing, members of Perry’s family submitted victim impact statements expressing their grief and feelings of betrayal. His half-sister Madeline shared her disbelief that someone so close to Perry could be involved in his death.

“It is difficult to put into words the sense of betrayal I felt when I found out what Kenny had done,” she wrote. “The idea that someone my brother considered family could betray him in such an unimaginable way is something I never could have conceived.”

Morrison had previously discussed Perry during a 2024 appearance on the Making Space podcast, mentioning that the actor had been in good spirits shortly before his passing.

“He was happy, and he said so. And he hadn’t said that for a long time,” Morrison reflected. “It’s a source of comfort, but also, he didn’t get to have his third act, and that’s not fair.”

The case continues to attract attention as multiple individuals linked to Perry’s death have now been sentenced or convicted, with investigations into the illegal ketamine supply chain still ongoing in court proceedings.

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