'He was my family': Heartbroken Ellen DeGeneres remembers Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss as 'pure love and light'
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'The Ellen Show' host is devastated at the news of the death of her show's former DJ and longtime friend, Stephen 'tWitch' Boss. Boss died by suicide at the age of 40.
On December 14, Ellen DeGeneres took to social media to express her grief over the untimely death of her friend and colleague Boss saying "I'm heartbroken". Sharing a picture of the show's duo hugging, DeGeneres added: "tWitch was pure love and light. He was my family, and I loved him with all my heart. I will miss him. Please send your love and support to Allison and his beautiful children - Weslie, Maddox, and Zaia."
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How did Stephen 'tWitch' Boss die? 'Ellen' DJ, 40, found dead of a gunshot wound in an LA hotel room
I’m heartbroken. tWitch was pure love and light. He was my family, and I loved him with all my heart. I will miss him. Please send your love and support to Allison and his beautiful children - Weslie, Maddox, and Zaia. pic.twitter.com/lW8Q5HZonx
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) December 14, 2022
Boss kicked off his career on TV as a dancer on the show 'So You Think You Can Dance'. For Season 4 of the show in 2008, he was the runner-up. On Season 10, he appeared as an all-star.
The dancer appeared as a guest DJ on 'The Ellen Show' in 2013 and he rose to fame in 2014 when he became part of the crew, working as an in-house DJ of the daytime show. He eventually took up the role of the show's executive producer in 2020. The 19-season run talk show ended airing on May 26, 2022, and until its end, Boss worked with DeGeneres.
Before the show ended, Boss and DeGeneres talked on the show in September about the time they had spent so far, where the former 'So You Think Can Dance' performer said, “I’m feeling all of the things, but what I’m feeling most of all is grateful and thankful that, I mean, you can see this atmosphere that is here that has showed up because you also had the courage to step up and be your authentic self." He concluded by saying “I’m just so grateful that I got to be a part of this and be a part of this family.”
Running a series of clips of 'tWitch' from the beginning of the show, DeGeneres displayed a tribute package for Boss during one of the final episodes and the 64-year-old comedian emotionally spoke of the duo's journey telling "Over a decade ago, I met someone who changed my life and our show,” and said “I love you so much, and it’s been an emotional week. … You always make me smile and laugh. And anyway, we put a little something together to show you just how much we all love you here.”
Being 'more than colleagues', DeGeneres expressed her gratitude for Boss' presence in her life and the show by saying "whenever he’s not here — for whatever reason — it’s just different. I mean, I count on him to look over at and make silly jokes. I love you, tWitch. We tell each other that every day when we say goodbye after the show. We both say, ‘Love you.’ He says, ‘Love you much,’ and I say, ‘Love you.’ So, he’s never gonna be out of my life. He’s always gonna be a part of my life.”
A longtime friendship known to the world, Boss came forward in supporting DeGeneres during a public backlash she faced in 2020. The show host was accused of racial insensitivity and bullying on set amidst alleged sexual misconduct between executives and lower-level employees, according to MEAWW.
Without stepping back from addressing the controversy, Boss said "We can’t speak too much legally about it, but I’ll say this, there’s been love. Obviously there’s some things to address, but from my standpoint and from countless others, there’s been love. I’ll just leave it at that until there’s a time where we can address more publicly. There’s been love and there’ll will continue to be love.”
The former executive producer of the talk show died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound on December 13 at an LA hotel, as per law enforcement sources. Following Boss' wife informing the police of her finding it unlikely of him leaving home without his car, the police began their search and were informed about the shooting at the hotel.
Boss is survived by his wife Allison Holker and their three children, Weslie, 14, Maddox, 6, and Zaia, 3.