ARCHIVE PHOTOS -Brittany Murphy 2005-2006

Could Brittany Murphy's Tragic Death Have Been Avoided?

Home / Entertainment / Could Brittany Murphy's Tragic Death Have Been Avoided?

By Favour Adegoke on December 9, 2021 at 6:15 AM EST

In mid-December 2009, news of the death of American singer and actress Brittany Murphy hit the headlines. Her demise was shocking and intriguing as there was no news of her ill health in the media.

However, the coroner's report tagged her death as an avoidable incident if she had gotten an earlier medical diagnosis for her ailment. The mystery around her untimely end roused suspicions and conspiracy theories as many suspected some foul play was at work.

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ARCHIVE PHOTOS -Brittany Murphy 2005-2006
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ARCHIVE PHOTOS -Brittany Murphy 2005-2006
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Barely a few months after, her husband— filmmaker Simon Monjack passed on— of the same symptoms. While many might find it strikingly out of the ordinary, a close source disclosed nothing was puzzling about their deaths.

He alleged that Monjack and Murphy disregarded their health and wellbeing in pursuit of fame, money, and career growth.

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Simon Monjack Wanted To Write A Book About Murphy's Life

Shortly after Murphy died, a family friend, Alex Ben Block, visited her home to share his condolences with Sharon- her mother, and Monjack. Ultimately, the visit turned out to be more of an interview than a grieving moment.

Block wrote for the Hollywood Reporter some inside details on how the "Clueless" actor's husband accused the industry of having a hand in his wife's death. According to the writer, Monjack wanted him to write an expose detailing that she died of a broken heart from mistreatment by the movie industry.

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A photo showing Simon Monjack in a black sweater and gray color pant, with a matching scarf around his neck.
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"He wanted to expose the studios, producers, and talent reps he believed had used rumor and innuendo — about her alleged lateness, inability to remember lines, drug use, and partying — to destroy her career," Block shared.

Many felt Monjack's desire was misplaced as his wife had barely cooled off in the ground, while others thought it was a desperate bid to make money using her name. However, the producer had always been known for his eccentric character, and this new quest was not too surprising.

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The Couple Eschewed Proper Medicine

In his piece, Block informed his readers how the couple preferred using their means to treat their ailments instead of going to the hospital.

"There was no sense of urgency to see a doctor because she and Monjack practiced their own form of 'holistic' medicine," he wrote.

In addition, the pair avoided the hospital as they assumed that any media publicity in such a place might not benefit them. "They were always afraid the paparazzi would find out if they got seen as sick and that it would hurt their job prospects in Hollywood," Block also shared.

Following Murphy's death, Monjack seemed to throw his initial caution into the wind by inviting cameras into their home to see where his wife died. In the end, it was counterproductive as people assumed that he did it for the selfish reason of shining the spotlight on himself.

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The Coroner's Report

Per Block, Murphy's final days were harried by breathing difficulties. Instead of rushing her to the hospital, Sharon and Monjack felt it was a ruse and just tried to manage the incident themselves.

Unfortunately, her demiseack came soon, which shocked her fans. According to the coroner's report, Murphy died of pneumonia, complicated by iron-deficiency anemia and multiple drug intoxication.

The medical examiner later disclosed to People that the actress's death resulted from negligence by her loved ones. If help was sought sooner, he stated that there was a high possibility of her survival.

In less than six months, Monjack also died. Like his wife, the cause was pneumonia and anemia. His death stirred more mysteries as fans could not wrap their heads around the entire issue.

Allegations Of Over Medication

The drug intoxication roused several speculations that the actress was constantly self-medicating. Block further confirmed this in his article as he wrote that a pharmacist, Eddie Bubar, who usually supplied Murphy and Monjack, stated that he knew something was amiss.

Bubar felt that their recurring purchase of large quantities of drugs made him suspect they were "doctor shopping." Additionally, the frequency kept increasing, which only made him more suspicious.

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ARCHIVE PHOTOS -Brittany Murphy 2005-2006
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In August 2009, the pharmacist confronted Simon and told him he was not interested in selling drugs to him any longer. The pharmacist told Block he "feared they were getting overmedicated, though he never imagined it would have such dire consequences."

Tragically, the couple's unhealthy decisions led to their untimely demise. Sharon took over her daughter's estate following their death. As per Celebrity Networth, the actress's net worth amounted to $10 million.

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