HOLLYWOOD, CA – After what sources close to the family describe as a period of 'understandable, if slightly prolonged, uncertainty,' the Short family has officially confirmed that Katherine Short, 42, daughter of comedic legend Martin Short, is indeed 'very dead.' The announcement, made Tuesday, February 24, 2026, aims to quell persistent rumors that Ms. Short was merely 'resting her eyes' or 'engaged in an extremely convincing method acting performance.'

'We understand the public’s confusion,' stated Dr. Elara Vance, Chief of Existential Certainty at the Bureau of Verified Non-Existence, in a press release. 'For a brief window, Ms. Short's vital signs were so subtly absent that some less rigorous observers mistook her condition for advanced meditation. We now have definitive, peer-reviewed data confirming irreversible cessation of all biological functions.'

The family's statement, released through a spokesperson, acknowledged the 'unfortunate delay' in reaching a consensus on Katherine's state. 'Martin is a man of precision,' the statement read. 'He simply wanted to ensure all avenues, including 'deep sleep' and 'extended hide-and-seek,' were thoroughly exhausted before making such a profound declaration.'

Local mortician Barry 'The Embalmer' Giggles, head of Perpetual Repose Funeral Services, added, 'Frankly, we've had her for weeks. She's been a model client. Very still. Very quiet. It's nice to finally have the paperwork catch up to the reality on the slab, so to speak.'