Anne Burrell passed away on June 17. She was found unresponsive by her husband on the bathroom floor of their Brooklyn home, surrounded by a multitude of pills. After a month-long investigation, the police have ruled her death a suicide, but some fans are not completely convinced by the coroner’s report.
When the investigation first began, the New York Fire Department had already concluded that her official cause of death was cardiac arrest. But considering there is sometimes foul play in situations involving drugs, they assured the public that further investigations would be conducted to fully assess and reveal what caused Burrell to go into cardiac arrest.
According to Page Six, the coroner has now released the findings on the Food Network star. Reportedly, Burrell’s cardiac arrest was caused by a mixture of diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine, and amphetamine, leading to acute intoxication. Ethanol suggests she had been drinking, and amphetamine is a common ADHD treatment, while the other two compounds are usually found in antihistamine medication.
The toxicology report, together with the fact that she was found in the presence of about 100 pills at the time of her death, has led police to conclude that this is a case of suicide. However, fans of the TV chef online are not so easily convinced.
On a post on X announcing Burrell’s cause of death, some users expressed their disbelief. One user shared “I don’t believe that for one min” and that it “reeks of something fishy.” Another user suggested that the cocktail of drugs found in Burrell’s system seemed like something that could happen by mistake, implying that it was actually an accident. A final user added weight to this suggestion, speculating that it may have been accidental and that Burrell was simply trying to tend to allergies. Debates online are still ongoing, with the public continuing to process the findings and finding their own ways of accepting Burrell’s toxicology report.
I don't believe that for one min. it reeks of something fishy.
— LainaBaina (@AlainaZ444) July 24, 2025
Definitely not suicide. Sounds like stuff I could accidentally take on a Wednesday night
— Le Toxique (@bwcfirst) July 24, 2025
Looks accidental more than suicidal she probably had allergies and didn’t realize you don’t use both allergy medicines and the heart rate went too low rest well
— QueenAuracle (@gr8tful88) July 24, 2025
It’s not surprising how protective people are of her legacy. Burrell had been a part of her fans’ lives since at least 2008, shuttling between different shows in the TV food scene and always maintaining a grounded personality despite all her difficulties. Some even crowned her the “Julia Child of our generation.” Even in her personal life, she was interactive with fans and participated in New York City’s vibrant social life — reportedly even attending an improv night on the evening before she passed away. So it’s understandable for fans to believe that the toxicology might show how, but not necessarily why.
Regardless, now that the authorities have done their part and the report has reached fans, it might be time for the family to finally close doors and find a way to gradually heal from this very tragic event. In response to Burrell’s death, her family released a statement to the media that read in part, “Anne’s light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world. Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal.”
