|
|
Brittany Murphy’s husband of two years, screenwriter Simon Monjack, 39, has spoken out about his wife’s sudden unexpected death. Monjack told Access Hollywood that his “world was destroyed” when Brittany passed so suddenly and later added that she was sick with laryngitis but that he didn’t think it was serious. He also praised Ashton Kutcher’s tweet about Brittany’s death, and called it “comforting”:
“My world was destroyed yesterday,” an emotional Monjack told Access Hollywood on Monday afternoon.
Following the news of the actress’ death at the age of 32 on Sunday, the Hollywood community offered an outpouring of love and condolences for Murphy – and one message, in particular, was very moving to Monjack.
“I loved what Ashton [Kutcher] wrote on Twitter. It was comforting to me,” Monjack told Access Hollywood, adding he did not know his wife’s former “Just Married” co-star personally. “I couldn’t have said it better.”
The message posted by Ashton read, “2day the world lost a little piece of sunshine. My deepest condolences go out 2 Brittany’s family, her husband, & her amazing mother Sharon. see you on the other side kid.”
As far as what happened inside the actress’ home early Sunday, when Murphy was found unresponsive in the shower, Monjack said up to that point, it had just been “a regular day.”
“[Her mother] Sharon went into the bathroom because she had been in there a long time. Her mom screamed for me and I ran. Then called 911,” he revealed.
As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a 911 call from the home at 8 AM on Sunday and eventually transported Murphy to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She was pronounced dead at the facility at 10:04 AM.
While LA County Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter told Access Hollywood the actress’ death “appears to be natural at this time” on Sunday, an autopsy was being conducted on Monday to determine the exact cause of death.
With regards to the coroner noting she may have suffered from flu-like symptoms in the days leading up to her death, Monjack admitted Murphy had been sick – but it did not seem like it was anything serious.
“She had laryngitis,” he said, noting she had seen a doctor. “She had been tired at the end of the year. She had made a couple movies.”
In his interview with Access, Monjack – who married Murphy in 2007 — took exception to the idea that his wife may have been linked to people who were bad influences on her.
“I don’t know why anyone would think that,” he said. “She found love. We found love. Brittany didn’t get to where Brittany was with anyone controlling her… Brittany was Brittany.”
[From Access Hollywood, link has automatic video]
In terms of the kind of goofy, some say insensitive, message that Ashton wrote after Brittany’s death, I think that people who knew Brittany might interpret it differently. It does seem kind of flippant to say “see you on the other side, kid,” but it’s also hopeful that you’ll be with the person again. Murphy was a really positive and upbeat person and she probably was “sunshine” in her husband’s life. You can imagine that remembering the good things about someone is comforting, especially after such a shock. I never know what to say to people after a tragedy and can’t fault Ashton for trying.
There’s a lot of focus on Brittany’s husband and his shady business dealings. I honestly don’t think the guy had anything to do with her death and by most accounts he was madly in love with her. Sure, he was a con artist in his way but there’s no reason to jump to the conclusion that he had anything to do with her death. He did initially object to an autopsy, but he and Brittany are Jewish and autopsies are considered desecration of the body under Jewish law.
If there’s more to this story we’re sure to hear about it, and the police are on the case. An initial investigation points to some kind of accidental death with no sign of foul play. TMZ just uncovered Brittany’s will and everything goes to her mom so it’s not like Monjack had anything to gain in her death.
Monjack may have been an enabler, however. There are stories about how he would show up drunk on set as Brittany’s handler, wrecking havok and costing his wife roles. Late last month, Monjack was rushed to the hospital after he was found incoherent on a plane arriving at LAX. Brittany’s on set behavior was said to have been “bizarre” and people were whispering about drug use. In an appearance on the Late Late Show in April of this year, (link leads to video) Brittany talked in a faux British accent and seemed loopy and high strung. She was coherent though and still funny.
According to TMZ, there were multiple prescription drugs found by Brittany’s bedside. As Kaiser reported earlier, an initial autopsy has been completed and the coroner is waiting for the results of toxicology tests. It’s looking like some kind of accidental overdose, just like Heath Ledger’s death. I’m just hoping that all these sad, high-profile deaths of young people will help bring awareness to the dangers of mixing prescription drugs.
|









