SHERRI Shepherd’s late executive producer Matt Uzzle “was responsible for at least $5 million missing” from the show budget, The U.S. Sun can confirm.

Matt was found dead on February 13 at his home in Piermont, New York, reportedly from an apparent suicide

A source has told The U.S. Sun: “Matt was in a bad accident last year, believed involving his motorcycle, and while he was out the people who took over for him realized bills weren’t being paid – like photo agencies, and other contracts Debmar Mercury has for the Sherri show – and so an investigation was opened.”

Previously, Deadline reported at the time of Matt’s death, there was a rumored financial investigation launched at Sherri.

Matt was one of the team members responsible for overseeing the budget.

The insider continued to allege: “In total, there was an accusation that Matt was responsible for at least $5 million that went missing but it seems this was happening for so long that it very well could be more.”

“Matt was a Debmar Mercury employee and was there forever – he was there before Wendy and began on her show at its inception.”

Sherri Shepherd’s talk show took over Wendy William‘s slot in September 2022.

The source continued: “He was really close with the higher ups and there is a belief there is no way they didn’t know this was happening.”

“The real issue is Debmar is owned by Lionsgate and now Lionsgate is demanding to know where their money went,” the insider concluded.

Matt worked in the entertainment industry as a producer.

He began his career as a production coordinator and line producer, before eventually catching his break on The Wendy Williams Show, even receiving a daytime Emmy nomination for his work on the show in 2016.

Sherri replaced Wendy as an interim host on her show and later took over Williams’ syndicated time slot with her new show, Sherri, in 2022.

The majority of The Wendy Williams Show’s staff, including Matt, followed Sherri to work on her show.

An investigation has been launched to look into Matt’s death, though multiple reports have stated that it’s reportedly an apparent suicide.

Beyond a few small news sites, Matt’s death has been kept under wraps.

He preferred to stay out of the spotlight and wasn’t active on any social media pages before his death.

MORE ABOUT MATT

Matt had several roles working behind the scenes in reality and daytime television.

According to his IMDb, he first worked as a production manager for NBA Inside Stuff, a sports TV series featuring behind-the-scenes activities of NBA players.

He was also a production coordinator on Maury, a tabloid talk show hosted by Maurice Richard Povich, better known as Maury.

Between 1999 and 2007, Uzzle was a production manager for a few episodes of The Montel Williams Show.

Hosted by Montel Williams, the tabloid talk series was similar to shows like Maury and The Jerry Springer Show.

In 2004, he served as the production manager for Crossroads Guitar Festival, a music documentary video from Eric Clapton’s June 2004 Crossroads Guitar Festival.

He was also the production manager for Great Performances, a TV series focusing on filmed and televised versions of theater productions, including operas, ballets, concerts, musicals, and plays.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255), chat on 988lifeline.org, or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.