Earlier today we heard some quotes from Brittany Murphy’s widower, Simon Monjack, who told Access Hollywood that he was “destroyed” by the sudden death of his wife of two years and that he found condolences by her ex, Ashton Kutcher, “comforting.” Monjack has now talked to People Magazine, and he has a lot more to say about his wife and the circumstances surrounding her death. According to Monjack, Murphy was just a little sick before she passed and she was only on “herbal remedies,” some prescription medicine for her “female time,'” and “cough syrup.” This account contradicts a report from TMZ, which claims that a ton of prescription drugs were found in the home. (TMZ can be tasteless but they run stories on solid information from law enforcement. Radar is even reporting that the LAPD is investigating how the details of the case got out.)

Regardless of the kind of naive-sounding insistence that Brittany couldn’t have died from a drug interaction, Monjack sounds very sincere and upset in his interview with People. It’s hard to tell without seeing him, but People reports that he was sobbing throughout the interview and I would bet that the poor guy is a wreck. He also explained his reluctance to approve an autopsy, “they’re going to cut her open – I couldn’t bear it,” and that fact that Murphy had a hear murmur since she was a child. She was also a type 2 diabetic, but it’s unknown at this point if her medical conditions contributed to her death.

As for the rumors that he’s a scam artist who was controlling Brittany and may have had a hand in her death, Monjack says he understands how people can jump to conclusions because it’s hard to accept that her death was an accident.

On Brittany’s body image and rumors that she was anorexic
“These rumors that she was anorexic? It’s crazy – she was slim, but that was her natural physique.

“We are faced with this ridiculous reality that people out there believe she felt, ‘Oh, poor me, I’m fat, I’m thin.’ Brittany didn’t see beauty as a physical thing, which I’m bloody lucky for,” he said with a laugh. “I know there was a disparity in how we looked and I’m no movie star, but she always saw the person.”

On why he opposed the autopsy at first
“My initial reaction to the autopsy was – they’re going to cut her open – I couldn’t bear it. That would break her mother, but we realized we needed to know. I look forward to getting the results.”

Brittany had a heart murmur
He added that his wife of three years did suffer from a heart murmur (mitral valve prolapse), which can cause fatigue, dizziness and irregular heartbeats – but is generally not life threatening.

On the drugs she was on
“She was on herbal remedies that wouldn’t speed up her heart,” Monjack says. “There was nothing here that could endanger her; there was prescription medication in the house for her female time and some cough syrup. That was it.”

Asked point-blank if a drug overdose was a possible cause of death, Monjack replied, “I can get rid of that one right now,” he says.

On the three movies they watched Saturday night
Last Saturday, the couple just relaxed in bed, watching three movies as Murphy prepared to cast her vote as a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. They ordered Brittany’s favorite takeout – Thai food – and ate soup prepared by Murphy’s mother, Sharon, who has lived with them for 3½ years.

“She was tired and a little sad because she was sick,” Monjack says about Brittany. “She wore her pink Beverly Hills Hotel robe and monkey pajamas. We saw It’s Complicated, Public Enemy and The Princess and the Frog.

On Brittany’s mom
But he’s most worried about his mother-in-law. “I don’t know if she will ever recover, and I know when she reads all this nonsense about her son-in-law and her deceased daughter, her heart is breaking. She has lived with us and saw the love and support. I hope she stays – I can’t imagine my life without Sharon – she’s my link to Brittany.”

Questions over how she died
“This is what’s killing all of us? How did it happen? Her mum, myself and her family – we want to know why we lost our baby.”

[From People]

I really believe that this guy was a con artist, but that doesn’t mean he’s not grieving over his wife’s death or that he somehow was complicit in it. It also doesn’t mean that he somehow hooked up with Brittany to take advantage of her. Yes he was very articulate for someone who just lost the love of their life, and people are inevitably going to point that out. Everyone grieves in different ways and some people just want to talk about the loved one they lost.

A few years ago, a friend of mine died in a car accident very young. His wife talked to the local paper about it shortly afterwards and she told cute stories about her husband and sounded as in control as this guy does. She also remembered small details about her husband, which is similar to Monjack talking about Brittany in her monkey pajamas. We don’t know how much he talked to People though and they’re probably excerpting the parts that make the most sense.I think I would be a total mess if my husband died, but you never know until you’re in that terrible situation. I’m all for speculative gossip when it involves something harmless, but when someone dies their loved ones deserve the benefit of the doubt.

People confirms TMZ’s report that Brittany Murphy’s will was drawn up before her marriage to Monjack and leaves everything to her mother. He is also not listed on the title to her house despite some erroneous reports that it was in his name.

Thanks to IceKitty for the link on Monjack’s background

Photos are from 6/4/07, 2/4/08 and 2/5/08. Credit: WENN.com