🚨 HEARTBREAKING: Jay Cohen Shares Emotional Tribute After Michelle Trachtenberg’s Sudden Passing 😭

Just days after the unexpected death of 38-year-old actress Michelle Trachtenberg, her boyfriend Jay Cohen has spoken publicly for the first time—and his grief is palpable.

In a statement posted to his private Instagram account, later confirmed by his publicist, Cohen wrote:

Michelle Trachtenberg's Boyfriend Breaks Silence Nearly 5 Months After Her  Death
“Michelle wasn’t just my partner.

She was my world, my best friend, and the light of my life.

I don’t know how to go on from here.

The message, which was reportedly written just hours after he returned from making funeral arrangements with Michelle’s family, has gone viral after being reposted by several friends and former co-stars.

“We talked about everything.

Her laugh could fix the darkest day.

And now the silence is unbearable.

Cohen, a film producer who had kept a relatively low profile throughout their relationship, shared intimate details of their life together—details the public never knew.

“Most people saw Michelle as the smart, funny, feisty girl on TV.

But she was also deeply kind, ridiculously goofy, and quietly struggling with more than anyone knew.

Loved by so many': Michelle Trachtenberg's boyfriend Jay Cohen breaks  silence on her death

” He continued, “She gave everything to others—even when there was nothing left for herself.

While the official cause of death has not yet been publicly released, sources close to the actress have said it was “sudden and unexpected.

” There is speculation it may have been linked to an undisclosed medical condition Michelle had been quietly battling for years.

According to Cohen, “She was strong.

She fought things you’ll never read about in headlines.

She didn’t want sympathy—she wanted to live, to work, to laugh.

And she did, until she couldn’t anymore.

Tributes have since poured in from Hollywood colleagues.

Sarah Michelle Gellar, her Buffy co-star, wrote: “My sister on screen and off.

There are no words for this pain.

Michelle Trachtenberg's Boyfriend Jay Cohen Speaks on Her Death

” Blake Lively, who worked with Trachtenberg on Gossip Girl, posted an old behind-the-scenes photo with the caption: “Thank you for the memories, the wild nights, the sisterhood.

I’ll miss you forever.

But it’s Cohen’s voice—the one of a grieving partner, caught in the aftermath—that’s striking the deepest chord with fans.

He included a photo of them together at home, barefoot and smiling, with the caption:
“This is how I want the world to remember her.

No makeup.

No red carpet.

Just us.

Just love.

Friends close to the couple revealed that Trachtenberg and Cohen had recently discussed engagement and even starting a family.

“They were planning a future,” said one friend.

Michelle Trachtenberg's Boyfriend Jay Cohen Was 'Huge Support' To Her  Before Death - Perez Hilton

“This wasn’t just a fling or a Hollywood romance.

They were the real deal.

And Jay is shattered.

In the days since Michelle’s death, Cohen has reportedly been coordinating with her family on funeral and memorial arrangements.

“He’s staying strong for her mom,” said a close family friend.

“But he’s broken inside.

She was everything to him.

Fans across the globe have flooded social media with messages of support, tagging Cohen and sharing their favorite Michelle moments.

From her unforgettable debut in Harriet the Spy to her emotionally charged role as Dawn in Buffy, she left behind a legacy far beyond her years.

And yet, those closest to her say she never fully realized the impact she had.

“She didn’t think she mattered to the world,” Cohen wrote in his statement.

“But she mattered to me.

Every second, every breath.

Who is Jay Cohen? Meet Michelle Trachtenberg's boyfriend

As of now, no official memorial date has been set, but Cohen ended his tribute with one final plea to Michelle’s fans:
“Don’t remember how she died.

Remember how she lived.

Watch her movies.

Share her stories.

Keep her spirit alive.

That’s what she would’ve wanted.

The world has lost a vibrant talent, a radiant soul, and someone who made millions smile without even knowing it.

But in Jay Cohen’s heartbreaking words, we’re reminded of the very real, very personal pain that fame can’t shield anyone from.

Michelle Trachtenberg may be gone—but the love she gave, and the love she was, still lingers in every memory, every performance, and every tear now shed in her name.