In the glittering world of Hollywood, where fame and fortune often come at a steep personal cost, the lives of celebrity assistants are marked by both privilege and peril. These behind-the-scenes professionals navigate a complex and often treacherous landscape, where the boundaries between personal and professional duties blur, and the demands of their high-profile employers can push them into ethically and legally dubious situations.
The recent conviction of Kenny Iwamasa, former assistant to Friends star Matthew Perry, has thrown a harsh spotlight on the extreme lengths to which some celebrity assistants must go to serve their employers. Iwamasa, who lived with Perry, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine after admitting he injected the actor with a lethal dose on October 28, 2023. Perry, who had battled addiction for years, died shortly thereafter in his backyard jacuzzi. Iwamasa’s arrest has shocked those who knew him, with friends and family reportedly “blindsided” by the charges.
“Iwamasa’s situation is heartbreaking on many levels,” said Merryl Futerman, a former celebrity assistant and author of Don’t Make a Scene: Struggles of a Celebrity PA. Futerman emphasized the gray area that surrounds the role of a personal assistant in Hollywood. “You can be asked to do almost anything, and it can be incredibly hard to say no,” she told The Post.
The unspoken rule in Hollywood, as many insiders confirm, is that refusing a celebrity’s request is often not an option. A veteran Hollywood producer, speaking on condition of anonymity, remarked, “If Matthew Perry tells you he needs a refill, you get it. The assistant becomes the least powerful person in that dynamic, and they’re often the ones left to take the fall when things go wrong.”
The life of a celebrity assistant is a paradoxical mix of glamour and degradation. While they might enjoy luxurious perks like stays in five-star hotels, private jet travel, and access to exclusive events, the price they pay can be steep. Many are forced to engage in activities that range from the morally questionable to the outright illegal. From carrying drugs through airport security to covering up their employer’s indiscretions, the job demands a level of loyalty that can lead to serious consequences.
Bonnie Low-Kramen, who served as the personal assistant to actress Olympia Dukakis before her death in 2021, highlighted the all-consuming nature of the job. “At times, I felt like I spent more time with Olympia than with my own family,” she recalled. Low-Kramen, who now trains others in the field and has written a book on the subject, pointed out that the job’s demands do not end when the workday is over. “You are expected to drop everything and deal with problems, no matter the time or place,” she said.
The potential for abuse in these roles is significant, as highlighted by numerous lawsuits filed by former assistants against their celebrity bosses. From allegations of sexual harassment to physical assault, these cases reveal a dark underbelly to the seemingly glamorous world of Hollywood. One former assistant to Naomi Campbell, for instance, alleged that the supermodel slapped her in the face and shredded her passport after a photo shoot in Morocco—a claim Campbell denied before the lawsuit was settled out of court.
The line between professional duties and personal servitude can become dangerously thin. Heather H. Howard, author of Chore Whore: Adventures of a Celebrity Personal Assistant, recounted how she was once tasked with procuring anal warts medication for her boss, who was too embarrassed to do it himself. “You get caught up in their life and don’t know how to get out,” said a Hollywood A-lister, speaking to The Post about the pressures faced by assistants.
The recent revelations surrounding Matthew Perry’s death and the role of his assistant in his final days underscore the extreme situations these professionals can find themselves in. Perry’s ex-girlfriend and former assistant, Kayti Edwards, revealed her shock at learning Perry had been injected with ketamine. “Matthew always told me he would never use needles,” she told The Mirror. Edwards, who dated Perry in 2006 and worked for him in 2011, described her fear as she watched him struggle with addiction, warning him repeatedly about the dangers of mixing drugs.
The dark side of Hollywood extends far beyond the red carpet, affecting those who work tirelessly to maintain the public personas of their famous employers. For many assistants, the job is a double-edged sword, offering proximity to power and prestige but at a significant personal cost. As Iwamasa’s case demonstrates, the consequences of crossing ethical and legal boundaries can be devastating, leaving those at the bottom of the Hollywood hierarchy to bear the brunt of the fallout.