Ellen DeGeneres Shares Tearful Clip of 'tWitch'—'Don't Want to Say Goodbye'

Ellen DeGeneres shared a throwback video of Stephen "tWitch" Boss on social media following his death.

The former Ellen DeGeneres Show DJ, 40, died by suicide on Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner confirmed to Newsweek.

Boss' wife of nine years, Allison Holker, shared a heartbreaking statement to People on Wednesday.

"It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to share my husband Stephen has left us. Stephen lit up every room he stepped into. He valued family, friends and community above all else and leading with love and light was everything to him," the dancer, 34, shared with the outlet. "He was the backbone of our family, the best husband and father, and an inspiration to his fans."

"To say he left a legacy would be an understatement, and his positive impact will continue to be felt," she continued. "I am certain there won't be a day that goes by that we won't honor his memory. We ask for privacy during this difficult time for myself and especially for our three children."

Holker concluded the emotional note, saying: "Stephen, we love you, we miss you and I will always save the last dance for you."

Boss is survived by Holker and their children: Weslie, 14, Maddox, 6, and Zaia, 3.

Following news of his passing, DeGeneres, 64, took to Instagram and Twitter to say she was "heartbroken."

"tWitch was pure love and light. He was my family, and I loved him with all my heart. I will miss him," the former talk show host captioned a photo of herself and Boss hugging. "Please send your love and support to Allison and his beautiful children - Weslie, Maddox, and Zaia."

On Thursday, DeGeneres posted another message alongside a video from The Ellen DeGeneres Show earlier this year.

"Right now what I want to do is remember all the love and laughter I had with tWitch. He brought so much joy to my life. I know he brought joy to yours too," the Emmy Award winner said. "I'm going to be sharing some of my favorite moments with him. If you want to you can also share yours. #ILovetWitch."

In the 5-minute, 53-second clip, DeGeneres surprised Boss with a special tribute as her longtime show came to an end.

"Over a decade ago, I met someone who changed my life and our show," she told the audience.

When a producer asked her what Boss "meant" to her, she exhaled and became emotional.

"Well, I don't want to say goodbye," she replied.

Boss skyrocketed to fame as a runner-up on So You Think You Can Dance in 2008. One of his dances was nominated for an Emmy for best choreography and he later returned to the show as a judge.

The Alabama native went on to work as an actor, starring in films like Magic Mike XXL and the Step Up franchise.

In 2014, Boss started as a guest DJ on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, before becoming a permanent fixture on the daytime series. In 2020, he was promoted to executive producer, a title he held until the show came to an end in May 2022.

DeGeneres and Boss met when So You Think You Can Dance producers set them up to learn a dance.

"It was like a crash course in getting to know each other because and he was so patient with me," she said. "That was my initial love for him was we just bonded over learning to dance together."

"He really, really makes me laugh," DeGeneres added, calling him her "pal" and "sidekick."

"He's never going to be out of my life," she said.

In the replies, celebrities expressed their condolences.

"RIP," Jersey Shore star Jenni "JWoww" Farley commented.

"Sending much love," actress Ellie Kemper said. "He was such a kind person."

"Such a beautiful tribute for such a wonderful soul," The Help star Octavia Spencer wrote. "This one hurts in ways that are indescribable."

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "988" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.

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