On December 20, 2009, Brittany Murphy, the actress known for Clueless, collapsed and died at age 32. Her sudden death shocked many and sparked speculation and conspiracy theories.
HBO Max’s two-part documentary series, What Happened, Brittany Murphy?, premiering October 14, aims to clarify the circumstances surrounding her death.
It explores the harsh environment Brittany Murphy faced in Hollywood during the late ’90s and early 2000s, a period marked by intense media scrutiny and misogyny.
The series highlights how Hollywood executives’ harsh comments about her appearance contributed to her insecurities.
It also reveals that Murphy’s vulnerability made her susceptible to the manipulative tactics of Simon Monjack, who is portrayed as a con artist in the documentary.
In 2007, Brittany Murphy married Simon Monjack despite warnings from friends about his criminal history.
Monjack soon isolated Murphy from her friends and took over multiple roles in her life, including manager and makeup artist.
An ex-girlfriend of Monjack’s, who had a child with him—whom Murphy was unaware of—speaks out about his abusive and deceitful behavior in HBO Max’s documentary.
Murphy was fired from her last film in November 2009 due to Monjack’s disruptive behavior on set. She collapsed at home on December 20, 2009, and died a few hours later.
Following Brittany Murphy’s death, her mother Sharon and husband Simon Monjack continued to live together and made a peculiar appearance on Larry King Live.
During the interview, Simon downplayed the need for an autopsy, which heightened suspicions and contributed to the proliferation of conspiracy theories surrounding Brittany’s death.
The coroner’s report stated that Brittany Murphy died from pneumonia, with contributing factors including iron deficiency anemia and multiple drug intoxication.
However, skepticism arose about the plausibility of a 32-year-old dying from pneumonia alone, leading to various theories about mold in her home or potential poisoning by her mother or husband.
The mystery deepened when Simon Monjack died less than six months later, on May 23, 2010, from similar causes—pneumonia and anemia—at age 39.
HBO Max’s documentary largely dispels the conspiracy theories surrounding Brittany Murphy’s death.
Toxicology tests on Murphy’s hair, conducted after her father’s lawsuit against the Los Angeles Coroner’s Office and LAPD, revealed high levels of lead, but it was attributed to her hairspray or hair dye.
No lead or mold spores were found in her system during the autopsy.
The coroner, interviewed in the series, suggests that Brittany might have survived if she had been taken to the hospital earlier while struggling with pneumonia and breathing difficulties.
Since Brittany Murphy’s death, her mother, Sharon, has lived in seclusion. The documentary reveals that after Simon Monjack’s death, Sharon discovered that the diamond jewelry he had given her was fake, and that Monjack had mismanaged their assets by creating fake property deeds and jewelry. Sharon does not appear in the HBO Max doc.
Her last public statement was a 2013 open letter, where she criticized Brittany’s estranged father, Angelo Bertolotti, for promoting theories about Brittany’s poisoning.
Sharon expressed her desire for Brittany to be remembered for her talent and genuine relationships rather than the controversy surrounding her death.
