A one-time SNL writer-turned-podcaster has refused to back down following a huge public backlash after he mocked Matthew Perry’s death.

Kevin Brennan, who hosts a podcast called Misery Loves Company and often targets other comedians, was slammed after he posted a tweet that made fun of Perry’s death.

The Friends actor was found dead in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home on Saturday. He was 54.

The 63-year-old tweeted a link to TMZ’s coverage of the actor’s passing on Saturday with the caption, ‘DROWNED IN A HOT TUB. HAHAHAHA.’

Kevin then replied to a tweet of TMZ’s coverage of his comments with the headline ‘Ex-SNL Writer-Comedian Kevin Brennan Mocks Matthew Perry’s Death.’

Following an outpouring of disgust, the unrepentant comedian returned to the social media platform yet again to write: ‘Am I trending yet?’

On Sunday, he said: ‘I didn’t mock it. I just thought it was funny. But I do love it when junkies die.’

In response to a user who asked Kevin: ‘Why is drowning in a hot tub funny?’ he replied: ‘Because it’s not very deep.’

Kevin faced a wave of criticism for his vile remarks, but refused to back down and continued to make jokes, taking to Twitter again on Monday to post the ‘am i trending yet?’ remark.

He also shared a news report about the controversy, with the headline: ‘Comedy writer slammed for cruel tweet mocking Matthew Perry’s death.’

Brennan was one of the writers and correspondents on SNL’s Weekend Update from 1999 until 2000. He was ‘passed over’ after being in the running following Colin Quinn’s departure as anchor.

The Chicago native is estranged from his younger brother, comedian Neal Brennan, known for being the co-creator of Comedy Central’s critically acclaimed Chappelle’s Show.

While Kevin has fallen into relative obscurity over the last decades, his brother has written for multiple shows and has a comedy special on Netflix.

Kevin, who dated fellow comedian Sarah Silverman in the 80s, is known for speaking about other comedians on his podcast and stand-up routines, including his brother, who he has repeatedly accused of stealing jokes.

‘I hate my own brother,’ he has said in the past about Neal. ‘I have five brothers… I can afford to hate a couple.’

People reacted in disgust, with one person commenting: ‘That’s EXACTLY why I said you would do it, you waste of space!! Anything for attention, even if it’s negative. Enjoy your 90 seconds of fame.’

Another person wrote: ‘For reminding people what a loser you are? Yes, yes you are,’ while a third echoed: ‘He’s literally the only reason anyone is finding out who you are lol so Matthew gets the last laugh.’

A fourth agreed, saying: ‘For all the wrong reasons. Who the hell says they “love when junkies die.” Read the room.

‘You should update your bio to just say…. awful human. Hope your podcast company drops you and all four total listeners that probably tune into your show.’

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Doubling down: Kevin, who hosts a podcast called Misery Loves Company, then replied to a tweet of TMZ’s coverage of his comments with the headline ‘Ex-SNL Writer-Comedian Kevin Brennan Mocks Matthew Perry’s Death’

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Five minutes of fame: Kevin faced a wave of criticism for his vile remarks, but refused to back down and continued to make jokes, taking to Twitter on Monday to ask: ‘Am I trending yet?

It comes after Kevin faced a wave of anger at the weekend for trying to make a mockery of Matthew’s untimely death.

Many fans took to social media to criticize him, with one questioning: ‘Comedy is supposed to be funny. Who told you that you are a comedian? Self-appointed?’

One disgusted person said: ‘It’s not at all anything to laugh about!!! You’re gross for thinking otherwise. You realize people can go into cardiac arrest and die in any surrounding, don’t you?

‘So you think heart attacks and death are funny? No wonder you’re a low-level comedian – you are not funny.’

Someone else echoed: ‘No wonder I had no idea who you were until the comment got picked up. At least people actually knew who he was.’

Another commented: ‘Imagine having to write something negative about someone of significance just to feel relevant.’

While a sixth said that in making the remarks, Kevin was ‘just trying to get another 15 minutes of fame which won’t happen.’

Another agreed, writing: ‘Jealous you won’t be mourned when your time comes, eh?’ while another called Kevin ‘a really sad sad human being.’

While someone else added: ‘So, you’re a terrible person. good to know that there’s a reason you don’t write for snl anymore; your lousy comedy.’

And another wrote to Kevin: ‘Are you that desperate to try and stay relevant? Until the TMZ article no one knew who you were. Millions knew & loved w/o hesitation Matthew.

‘His past didn’t change that, and it made him stronger. He passed away with more class, & dignity than you could ever hope to have.’

Perry’s assistant made an urgent 911 call after the Friends star suffered a cardiac arrest in his hot tub on Saturday.

A recording of the moment emergency services rushed to the scene has been shared which describes a drowning – known as an Emergency Medical Situation 9.

The coroner for Los Angeles County has listed Matthew Perry ‘s cause of death as ‘deferred’, pending the final results of toxicology tests.

On Sunday afternoon, the coroner released his body to the family, but said they are yet to determine a cause of death.

A LAPD source told The New York Post: ‘We responded to the 1800 block of Blue Sail Rd for a death investigation on a male 4:10 p.m. this afternoon. He was in his 50s.’

No drugs were found at the scene with authorities ruling out foul play.

Sources did say that anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medications were found inside the property, including pills for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Friends have said that star seemed ‘fatigued’ in his last days, and in his final post on Instagram, shared earlier this week, he posted images of him in his pool.

The caption read: ‘Oh, so warm water swirling around makes you feel good? I’m Mattman.’

Perry, who played Chandler Bing on the NBC smash hit Friends, had battled substance abuse throughout his life, said that he was keen to help others who were dealing with a similar situation.

In a November 2022 appearance on the podcast Q with Tom Power at Toronto’s Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, he said that the ‘paramount thing’ he would want to be remembered for ‘is that he wants to help people’ battling addiction.

‘The best thing about me, bar none, is that if an alcoholic or drug addict comes up to me and says, “Will you help me?”‘ he said. ‘I can say yes and follow up and do it.

‘When I die, I don’t want Friends to be the first thing that’s mentioned. I want that to be the first thing that’s mentioned, and I’m going to live the rest of my life proving that.’

Matthew said that it was difficult for him to watch past episodes of Friends, as he could chart his addiction battle by his appearance on the program.

‘I didn’t watch the show, and haven’t watched the show, because I could go drinking … opiates … drinking … cocaine,’ he said. ‘Like I could tell season by season by how I looked.’

Matthew called the program – which co-starred Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer – ‘an incredible ride.’

He added: ‘It’s been an incredible thing to watch it touch the hearts of different generations. It’s become this important, significant thing and I, you know, I would watch that again. It was really funny, and all the people were nice.’

Matthew appeared on the hit series for 10 seasons spanning 1994 until 2004. He had also appeared in a number of motion pictures in his career, including 1997’s Fools Rush In, 2000’s The Whole Nine Yards and 2009’s 17 Again.

On Saturday, TMZ reported that first responders had been summoned to Matthew’s home to deal with a cardiac arrest. Foul play was not suspected in the actor’s death, sources told the outlet.