EXCLUSIVE: Beauty queen Athenna Crosby claims she was spotted having lunch with ‘close friend’ Matthew Perry a day before his death – and he was ‘happy and vibrant’

• A former Miss Teen USA has claimed it was she that dined with Matthew Perry the day before the star died 
• Speaking to DailyMail.com, Athenna Crosby claimed the star was in good spirits
• Officials have warned that a cause of death may not be known for weeks 
• READ MORE: Inside Matthew Perry’s relationship with Briana Brancato, his assistant and best friend

Beauty queen Athenna Crosby has claimed it was she who was spotted having lunch with her close friend Matthew Perry a day before his death. 

The Friends star, 54, appeared in good spirits as he sat down with a brunette at the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, California, on October 27 just one day before his death. 

Crosby, who is a former Miss California and finalist in Miss Teen USA, has claimed the mystery woman was her, telling DailyMail.com: ‘Matthew was in good spirits on our outing together and we are all still shocked by this tremendous loss. 

‘I hope this directs more people to his recent memoir and his advocacy work for addiction, and that by seeing his story, more people struggling can get the help they need.’

Other diners said the duo sat for over an hour and a half before leaving together, with the actor largely ignoring his food as he was immersed in his glamorous guest, according to TMZ. 

Other diners said the duo sat for over an hour and a half before leaving together, with the actor largely ignoring his food

Crosby, who is a former Miss California and finalist in Miss Teen USA, has claimed it was she that the star had lunch with on Friday

Posting on her Instagram, Crosby also said: ‘Once again I never intended to say anything but since I have been identified, yes that is me with him this past Friday. 

‘I want to emphasize that Matthew was in extremely good spirits, and talked to me enthusiastically about the things that he had coming up in his life. 

‘He was so happy and vibrant. Please refrain from any speculation surrounding his death and know that the man was on a comeback and truly deserved more time on this earth. Our entertainment industry has truly lost a legend. RIP.’ 

Crosby also shared a short video of her opening up a copy of his signed memoir, which said: ‘Theens. A number one New York Times best seller for the number one girl.’

In a tribute post, Crosby said: ‘I wasn’t going to speak about this but what I will say is I had the honor of knowing Matthew personally. 

‘I am so devestated from his death but felt it was in poor taste to talk about it publicly as the attention should not be on me but rather on him and his legacy. 

‘But indeed, we were friends and I was one of the last people to speak to him and see him before he passed.’ 

Posting on her Instagram, Crosby also paid tribute to Perry 

In a separate post to her Instagram, Crosby said she was ‘one of the last people to speak to him and see him before he passed’

Crosby also shared a short video of her opening up a copy of Perry’s memoir that he had signed

Athenna Crosby attends Babes In Toyland PINK Party For Breast Cancer Awareness Month held at Skybar on October 14, 2023 in West Hollywood, California 

Investigations into Perry’s death are still ongoing, however officials have said there are no indications foul play was a factor. 

He is believed to have drowned, although an official cause of death has not been announced.  

First responders on the scene revealed that when Perry was found by his assistant, he was found underwater before she lifted his head up in a desperate attempt to get him some air. 

 By the time the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived at his Pacific Palisades home, the actor was already dead, it was later determined.

It comes after a 15-second dispatch call emerged revealing the moment his assistant called 911 to report a possible cardiac arrest. 

Perry had been open about his past struggles with alcohol and substance abuse, but said in recent interviews he was clean and sober. 

Perry wrote in his memoir, published last year, that he had spent $9 million trying to get sober, revealing he had been to 6,000 AA meetings, gone to rehab 15 times, and been in detox 65 times. 

First responders are said to have found anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications at the property – but there was no sign of any illegal drugs. 

Family friends had also reported that he seemed ‘fatigued’ in the days before his death. 

With tributes flooding in for the actor, his ex-fiance has been left ‘heartbroken’ by his loss after hoping for a long-lasting relationship with Perry before he ‘threw it away.’ 

Perry and Hurwitz had been first romantically linked in 2018 before their engagement in November 2020. 

Their relationship came to a dramatic end in the summer of 2021, however, after it was alleged that Perry had messages a 19-year-old on exclusive dating app Raya. 

‘Of course, she is heartbroken over his death,’ an insider told DailyMail.com. ‘She loved him and just like anyone else would feel in her instance, wishes things would have been different.’

On Monday, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer all signed a statement, telling fans they are heartbroken by the news of Perry’s death on Saturday. 

Perry’s ex-fiancé Molly Hurwitz had hoped for a long-lasting relationship with Perry before ‘he threw it away’, an insider told DailyMail.com 

Courteney Cox starred as Monica Geller, Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing, Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller, Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani, and Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay in the hit sitcom 

The cast told People: ‘We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family.

‘There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.’

The stars continued: ‘In time we will say more, as and when we are able.

‘For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.’ 

Perry famously starred as Chandler Bing in the popular sitcom, alongside Aniston as Rachel, Cox as Monica, LeBlanc as Joey, Kudrow as Phoebe and Schwimmer as Ross. 

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