Ellen DeGeneres held back tears as she delivered her first public statement following the passing of her dear friend and esteemed talk show personality, Stephen “tWitch” Boss.
Addressing her audience in a video shared on her social media platforms, DeGeneres began, “Hey everybody. I just wanted to say the past 11 days have been really tough for everyone.” She acknowledged the collective pain and struggle to comprehend the loss, stating that making sense of such tragedy is a challenge in itself.
Earlier this month, tWitch, the beloved DJ of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and a dancer renowned for his appearances on “So You Think You Can Dance,” passed away. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed his death by suicide. His departure left a void felt deeply by the entertainment world and the wider public, given his warm-hearted nature and his dedication to spreading happiness through dance.
In tribute to him, DeGeneres emphasized that the best way to honor tWitch’s memory is by embracing joy. She stated, “the best thing we can do is to laugh and hug each other and play games and dance and sing” – the very things he cherished.
“While it may seem impossible, that’s how we honor him,” she continued. “Let’s hug each other, express our love, be there for those in need, and stay connected.”
DeGeneres had previously expressed her sorrow upon learning of Boss’s passing, stating that she was “heartbroken.”
Having joined “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” as DJ in 2014, Boss eventually expanded his role to co-executive producer and occasional guest host.
DeGeneres concluded the video by acknowledging the poignant truth of tWitch’s radiant nature: “I know it’s not a happy holiday, but he was pure light — as everybody in the comments said. If you knew him, you knew that. If you didn’t know him, you saw it.”
She urged everyone to uphold his memory by keeping his spirit alive, fostering kindness, and extending love to one another.
