Carla Jeffery’s family has responded to allegations that the late actress used substances prior to her death at age 33, denying the claims.
"She did not do drugs," the family told TMZ on Thursday. They also stated that there was no foul play involved and that law enforcement is not investigating her passing.
The cause of Jeffery’s death has not yet been revealed. Her family plans to withhold further details surrounding her passing until the autopsy report is released, aiming to prevent the spread of misinformation.
The "Zombies" star's death was confirmed on Tuesday by her talent agency, Alexanders Talent Management, in an Instagram tribute. The agency expressed heartbreak over the loss, stating, "For more than 20 years, Carla was part of the Alexanders Talent Management family, and watching her grow from a talented young girl into the beautiful, vibrant woman and actress she became was an incredible privilege."
Alexanders Talent Management said they would remember Jeffery for her "infectious smile, her laughter, her talent, and the beautiful light she carried everywhere she went."
Jeffery was widely recognized for her role as Bree in the Disney "Zombies" film franchise. She first appeared in the 2018 movie alongside actors Milo Manhein, Meg Donnelly, Trevor Tordjman, and Kylee Russell. Jeffery reprised her role in the 2020 sequel and the third film in 2023, and also lent her voice to Bree in "Zombies: The Re-Animated Series" in 2024.
In an appearance on "The Tokens Podcast" a year prior to her death, Jeffery spoke about being an inspiration to women who saw themselves in her. "I'm the token black girl, and I'm the big black girl," she said. "I can show it just for all my black girls, but also for the thick ones, and that's what I wanted to try to represent as I was going forward."