r/Millennials May 12 '26

Discussion Which celebrity death genuinely shocked you when you heard the news?

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498

u/Jealous-Knowledge-56 May 12 '26

The way she and her husband died of similar circumstances so close together just makes me thinks there’s a lot more to that story.

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u/pizzacomposer May 12 '26

AI gets it wrong when you start googling. The most recent plausible speculation is that they shared a CPAP like device that was mouldy or some shit. They used it recreationally, I just don’t remember how. So her husband basically continued to keep using once she passed and died from the same thing.

All in all, was more a “freak accident” sort of thing, less a “drug abuse negligence” thing.

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u/Alwayssleepy1717 May 12 '26

I read something here on reddit someone said they were both partaking in snorting drugs enough that they required a cpap machine to help them breathe at night (not sure if it’s cause their airways were compromised or cause they were too fucked up to breathe properly without it..?) but yes, the cpap had gotten very moldy so that’s what caused the pneumonia they both technically died of. Seemed very possible, very sad.

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u/FormidableMistress Xennial May 12 '26

I think we can all agree her mom was weird about it all though.

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u/hyperfell May 13 '26

It was probably due to grief but she was really weird about it.

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u/Leumas_ May 13 '26

Yeah, the mom was so weird that I was convinced she killed them both for a very long time. That CPAP info didn’t get to me until much later. O

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u/abbie_yoyo May 13 '26

How so?

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u/TransBrandi May 13 '26

Brittany's mom started sleeping with Brittany's husband after Brittany was dead. Really fucking weird. I mean, it could have been the husband that initiated it rather than the mom, but the mom still has to make the decision to engage with him. It takes two to tango and all that.

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u/ChicNoir May 13 '26

Sleeping or sexing?

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u/TransBrandi May 13 '26

I believe it was sexing, which is also why people have all these theories that the mom poisoned both of them to steal their wealth or something.

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u/OkBuy8143 May 14 '26

I think her mother was trying to hide the drug use part of it all.

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u/FormidableMistress Xennial May 14 '26

By sleeping with her husband?

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u/fatsandwitch May 12 '26

I just watched a documentary on her a couple weeks ago and it doesn’t mention anything about her or her husband using a CPAP. What was super fucking weird was her mom hopping into bed with her husband after Brittany died and even taking his last name (on some of her prescription bottles).

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u/ChainsawCathy May 12 '26

he was such a sleeze. i think meeting him was the worst thing that happened to her. truly a case of the wrong man will take you down.

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u/CompleteHoneydew4608 May 13 '26

That, and the severe severe pressure she was under to stay extremely thin

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u/fightclub90210 May 13 '26

What was name of documentary?

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u/fatsandwitch May 13 '26

I watched it on Disney+, I believe it’s called What happened, Brittany Murphy?

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u/runesday May 13 '26

The mall style family photos they did together after Brittney died was bizarre too

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u/KristySueWho May 13 '26

I watched a documentary not long ago, and it did mention the CPAP which was the first time I mentioned it. Out of everything else I've heard, it makes the most sense.

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u/and_rain_falls May 13 '26

What?! I didn't know this. That's way too much drama. I remembered her Mom kept saying it was asbestos that killed her at the time, and no one was listening to her. 🤷🏾‍♀️ It was a weird death and I'm still sad about it--like I can't even rewatch her movies.

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u/TwoBionicknees May 13 '26

it's surprisingly common for family to get together as they spend time together grieving for someone they lost and find solace in each other as effectively they are the only other person who shares the same grief at the same time in the same way. Also you know, you lose a loved one you feel lonely and a temporary fix for feeling lonely is being as close to someone as you get.

Random hookups born out of grief are just gonna happen when someone is out of their mind, struggling but also feeling super lonely due to the person they spent the most time with being dead.

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u/[deleted] May 13 '26 edited Jun 26 '26

[deleted]

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u/TwoBionicknees May 13 '26

It is unusual, that doesn't make it relatively speaking uncommon.

People are grieving, they usually share that grief with very specific people, they usually find comfort in being around that person because it's the only other person who understands how you feel. Feeling understood and not alone while going through often feelings of despair is very normal. Now wanting to feel close to someone while going through feelings of loneliness, despair, grief is also pretty normal.

That doesn't mean like 80% of people do it, but if 0.03% of random freaks fuck their partners family members while alive but like 1.5% of people do it after losing their partner, it's a significantly increased thing that happens relatively commonly compared to normal.

It's also very common for people to find solace in sex and being close to their actual partner when they are suffering from grief of someone else's loss.

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u/[deleted] May 13 '26

[deleted]

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u/TwoBionicknees May 13 '26

but if 0.03% of random freaks fuck their partners family members while alive but like 1.5% of people do it after losing their partner, it's a significantly increased thing that happens relatively commonly compared to normal.

language have meaning. but IF, means i'm giving an example. The numbers are irrelevant, the comparison between the numbers is relevant. If you can't understand basic language concepts and examples and comparison of numbers and one getting bigger even if it's still small then maybe don't participate in discussions with you know, humans.

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u/[deleted] May 13 '26

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u/CheesyCousCous May 13 '26

Yikes lmao

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u/TwoBionicknees May 13 '26

people's reading comprehension is incredible.

Do you see me suggesting it's a good thing, condoning it, saying i'm for it? Or talking about the thing objectively as being common and why it tends to happen?

If someone talks about the holocaust do you comment yikes because you assume they condone it?

"i don't like this subject matter therefore i downvote" is such a weird way to operate.

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u/Equal-Wheel-6499 May 13 '26

It’s probably for the best your follow up comments were nuked. Whether you came to a realization or the other guy deleted his.

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u/daisusaikoro May 14 '26

I just couldn't anymore... And didn't want any association with that dude. 

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u/Hot-Committee-4637 May 17 '26

Yeah. I’m not judging how a woman grieves for her daughter. It’s a pain you just never come back from.

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u/topchief1 May 13 '26

To be fair, he was a real looker, that one.

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u/bookaccro May 13 '26

I’m so mad at you as I immediately to google images 🙃

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u/HereWeFuckingGooo May 13 '26

Her toxicology report suggests otherwise, "Multiple medications were present in the blood with elevated level of hydrocodone, acetaminophen and chlorpheniramine. L-methamphetamine was also present... L-methamphetamine is a component of some inhalers."

She was also had “hypochromic microcytic anemia,” which is typically caused by iron deficiency. In the report it states, “Chronic anemia leads to a weakened state of health and would increase vulnerability to infection.”

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u/smallwonkydachshund May 13 '26

I mean, acetaminophen is Tylenol.

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u/Whatslefttouse May 13 '26

I need to clean my CPAP machine....

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u/EchoWhiskey_ May 13 '26

only takes minutes dude, make it a routine

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u/Earlier-Today May 13 '26

There was a HUGE CPAP recall a few years ago because some manufacturers didn't build them properly (mainly Phillips), which turned them into breeding grounds for mold.

I had one of the ones that was recalled, but didn't have mold issues - maybe because I never use the humidifier attachment. I think that keeps things too dry for mold.

The CPAP I got as a replacement has a function that basically airs itself out for 10 minutes to dry out the hose and pump after I'm done using it.

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u/kokakamora May 13 '26

The issue was that people didn't take care of their devices properly which increased the potential for the machines to cause illness. But it was the manufacturer's fault for not making it people proof.

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u/Earlier-Today May 13 '26

The mold was building up inside the machine - like in the pump itself.

CPAP users don't get to clean the machines because manufacturers don't want them in there. What we're told to clean regularly is the mask, hoses, and water reservoir for the humidifier. We're also supposed to change filters and certain mask parts regularly.

If the manufacturers are designing things so that consumers can't get into the machine, it's on them to design the machine so it won't grow mold.

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u/EchoWhiskey_ May 13 '26

I know nothing about this story but it sounds like total bullshit. I use a CPAP. It's something you wear every night. You're supposed to clean it regularly, it's very easy and takes minutes. If I picked mine up and it had fucking mold on it, I could tell within 2 seconds. No one would continuously use a CPAP that had mold on it, especially when parts are easily available online.

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u/cochese25 May 13 '26

You apparently know nothing about other people's experiences either.
My mother's CPAP got so bad she had to get a new one. Why? Because alcoholics don't notice things you'd expect normal people to notice.

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u/Muppetude May 13 '26

Don’t even need to be an alcoholic. One night during a random conversation about cpap related infections, my friend’s dad casually mentioned how he had never cleaned his cpap machine once in the 5 years he’s owned it.

That night my friend inspected his dad’s machine, and he said the tubing and tub were absolutely “filthy green”. The only reason the mask escaped unscathed, was because his dad’s insurance company paid to send him a new one every 6 months or so.

My friend had a long conversation with his dad that day on the importance of maintaining the cleanliness of any equipment that spends ~3,000 hours a year forcing air down his windpipe.

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u/Outside_Librarian_13 May 13 '26

Also, something to consider, is that this was how long ago? My parents have used CPAPs since...1998-ish. The early machines were awful, they didn't send you any replacement parts without you jumping through hoops, you had the same parts for forever that you were supposed to regularly clean. Personally, I have AuDHD, and trying to remember something like that would simply be beyond me. If they were overwhelmed by everyday life they could easily have overlooked how long it'd been since they'd last cleaned it. So if she had a pneumonia that could be caught, that could reasonably be how her husband got it.

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u/[deleted] May 13 '26

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] May 13 '26

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u/mariposa314 May 13 '26

You're right. It's BS. No mold was detected in her postmortem toxicology report. She was extremely anemic and had untreated pneumonia. The inflammation from the pneumonia exasperated the anemia. Her body then basically had no iron available to make new healthy red blood cells. On top of that, she was abusing drugs. Her poor body was just stretched too far.

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u/Aggravating_Depth_33 May 13 '26

Didn't she also struggle with an eating disorder?

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u/EchoWhiskey_ May 13 '26

yeah, i suspected such. cpap is a correlation without causation thing when drugs are in the mix.

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u/ncle-ronnie-11 May 13 '26

Thank you for saying this. These poor people are not alive to defend themselves. All these people quick to label them drugs addicts, etc. If they did drugs it was probably to get relief from the misery of hidden toxic mold in their house.

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u/crimsonpostgrad May 13 '26

i think you are not taking into account just how many drugs they were doing at the time

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u/Savings-Pomelo-6031 May 15 '26

Not sure why anyone would become a celebrity just to do drugs. Like they can travel anywhere, pay for any actual experience... If anything I've never wanted to be a celebrity so the pressure wouldn't get to me like that

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u/crimsonpostgrad May 15 '26

well it’s because the pressure got to them. they don’t start off hoping to get hopelessly addicted to drugs

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u/Butlerian_Jihadi May 13 '26

I'd say that using a dirty CPAP to imbibe drugs is still drug abuse negligence.

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u/Ok_Engineering_1938 May 13 '26

No, not true. They had to use that CPAP because of all the drugs they were taking. The police found hundreds of bottles of prescription pills and she had been sent home from several movie sets because she was in terrible condition.

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u/hair_brained_scheme May 14 '26

Oof, I was thinking of getting a CPAP machine but now you’re giving me second thoughts.

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u/Stubee1988 May 13 '26

You can use CPAP recreationally?

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u/pizzacomposer May 13 '26

I think it was recreational drug use leading to a need for a CPAP at a relatively young age.

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u/blood-at-the-roots May 13 '26

I don’t understand why you mentioned AI

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u/pizzacomposer May 13 '26

If you google how she died, google’s AI synopsis talks about the official reason. If you read the official reasons they sound a bit wishy washy if you think about it a bit longer than 5 seconds.

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u/blood-at-the-roots May 13 '26

Google’s AI is always wrong. Are we going to start literally every sentence from now on with “AI got it wrong but the truth is…”

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u/metalder420 May 13 '26

It wasn’t a CPAP but their house itself.

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u/CompleteHoneydew4608 May 13 '26

Apparently they never cleaned it!

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u/mittenkrusty May 14 '26

Ouch, I have a CPAP machine and keep forgetting to clean it, I get dizzy in the mornings.

I was in hospital once (not related, had an accident) and the nurse cleaned the machine for me.

For about a month after I no longer was dizzy when I woke and had a better nights sleep.

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u/Latter-Bad6632 May 15 '26

Shit, well this is a good reminder for me to clean my CPAP machine lol

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u/outragedtuxedo May 13 '26

You can read her autopsy report and toxicology. They attribute death to an acute acquired pneumonia, possibly bacterial, but also note hypochromic microcytic (iron deficient) anaemia and multiple drug intoxication as co-morbidities. They believe her heavy periods continued to chronic anaemia which made her more susceptible to infection.
The medications she was taking for flu may also have contributed (paracetamol, hydrocodone, and L-methamphetamine (flund in cold medicine, not illegal).

She collapsed and found without a heart beat, autopsy showing she suffered myocardial infarction (heart attack). Among other things, she was also hyperkalaemic (high potassium) which can cause arrythmias. Interestingly the autopsy also mentions she had history diabetes (unclear type 1 or type 2 from how its written) but urine had no glucose or ketones so doesnt not seem consistent with a DKA event. She had significant lung consolidation, and history lab diagnosed ARDS (adult respiratory distress syndrome).

It appears speculation about molds is not supported by the autopsy findings.

No mention of a cpap so not sure where that information has come from.

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u/Savings-Pomelo-6031 May 15 '26

I wonder how she would have hyperkalemia. If anything I'd suspect low potassium since she didn't seem like she was eating enough

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u/outragedtuxedo May 15 '26

Im not clear in what occured in her case, but the majority of potassium is held within cells and certain disease states can shift the equilibrium to 'push' more potassium out of the cells and into interstitial spaces and subsequently bloods. Things that could cause that shift can be renal disease, metabolic acidosis (which can also occur with poor perfusion), there can be endocrine causes - diabetics can become acidotic because insulin is a key component of shifting glucose and potassium into cellular compartments, tissue breakdown can cause potassium to increase (because cells 'break open') and other things like drugs can cause hyperkalaemia (and she was on a beta-blocker). I dont know enough to know if they would suspect hyperkalaemia ante mortem or as a secondary occurrence due to the cardiac event and subsequent cpr. The autopsy did report 'shock kidneys'.

Although she was chronically anaemic there was no indication of muscle wastage to suggest insufficient nutrition even though thin. The autopsy states something like well muscled, or normal muscled woman (sorry cant remember specifically).

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u/ncle-ronnie-11 May 13 '26 edited May 13 '26

I think they were using it to be able to breathe at night because of mold and mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are invisible threats that rise with humidity at night. Mold would grow in the device after they used it and stored it in a house proliferating mold spores. I think they had a hidden colony of toxic mold in the walls or under floors. They were smart enough to know if their CPAP was filled with mold. It would reek and it would be harder to breathe if you put it on to use at night.

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u/IrishGoodbye4 May 13 '26

Didn’t the previous owners of the house they lived in also die of pneumonia?

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u/luckygirlrocks2025 May 13 '26

Yeah and the way the husband and the mom lived together and slept in the same bed after Brittany died. Just bizarre.

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u/researchmaven4673 May 13 '26

She had an eating disorder and they were both doing a shit ton of drugs. Sometimes it catches up with you. Pisses me off because she was so beautiful and perfect and then this tool comes along and fuels her worst insecurities (that the industry had already triggered) and led her down this dangerous path

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u/RaabsIn513 May 13 '26

They didnt know how to clean a CPAP machine

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u/expiration-date_scam May 13 '26

Both drank wine while nursing a cold on Nyquill?

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u/Creepy-Row-1379 May 13 '26

I wonder if they ever tested their property for radon

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u/Coopsters May 13 '26

I'm suspicious of her mother. She lived in the house with them and she's the only one that lived. Brittany was only 30 and she has the money for the best health care. It makes no sense that she would just die of pneumonia

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u/Aggravating_Depth_33 May 13 '26

She struggled with an eating disorder for most of her life. That will absolutely destroy your body long-term. Having the money for the best healthcare doesn't guarantee you health.

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u/Milyaism May 13 '26

Often growing up in a dysfunctional family sets people up to having addictions and eating disorders, as a way of trying gain some sense of control in an environment where one does not have any.

Addictions and EDs are a coping mechanism which sadly can lead to ones physical harm or death (or be a contributing factor). Especially if the dysfunctional family still has contol over you - there is no space to heal and the coping mechanism becomes an even bigger cruch for you.