Ellen DeGeneres Calls tWitch a 'Gift to the World' in Resurfaced Clip

Ellen DeGeneres has shared a video of herself calling her beloved talk show DJ and friend Stephen "tWitch" Boss a "gift to the world" as she continues to mourn his recent death at the age of 40.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner confirmed to Newsweek that Boss's cause of death was suicide after he was found on Tuesday, December 13 in a motel room in Encino, California.

News of his death sparked a flood of tributes across social media from a number of celebrities, including DeGeneres, who took to Instagram to share a photo of herself embracing Boss on what appeared to be the set of their show.

"I'm heartbroken," she wrote. "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 [his wife] Allison and his beautiful children—Weslie, Maddox, and Zaia."

DeGeneres shared another heartfelt tribute on Tuesday, when she posted a video on Twitter in which she was seen celebrating Boss's birthday with him on her eponymous talk show.

"Here's what makes today extra, extra special—it is tWitch's birthday," DeGeneres said to cheers from the studio audience.

Speaking directly to the So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD) alum, the comedian added: "Of course, you know the day you were born it was a gift to the world."

"Oh, thank you," Boss responded, before DeGeneres drew laughs by pulling up one of his old baby photos.

In the clip, which originally aired in September 2021, DeGeneres and Boss competed with one another on a special birthday edition of word-guessing game Danger Word.

Also on the dancer's birthday, DeGeneres surprised Boss in the studio by showing a montage of some of his best moments together on camera.

The montage included clips of Boss dancing, taking part in a Bridgerton parody, guest hosting the show, holding a snake and getting waxed, among many other feelgood moments.

"I am so very grateful that I get to look at your face every single day. I love you so much, tWitch, and I couldn't do the show without you," DeGeneres said in the montage.

After the video played, Boss and DeGeneres said that they love one another and hugged as the studio audience applauded.

DeGeneres rounded out the tribute by gifting Boss a large birthday cake, as his wife and their children made a surprise appearance in the studio.

While Boss started off as a recurring guest DJ on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2014, he first worked with DeGeneres back in 2010, when they danced together on a SYTYCD season finale. He became a permanent part of Ellen later in 2014.

In May of this year, as her long-running show came to an end, DeGeneres opted to forgo sharing a montage of the best celebrity moments on the daytime favorite and instead honored Boss. The gesture brought Boss to tears.

"Over a decade ago, I met someone who changed my life, and our show," she said. "And I'm talking about you, tWitch, come here."

As Boss joined her on the main stage, DeGeneres told an emotional Boss: "I love you so much and it's been an emotional week ... You always make me smile and laugh. Anyway, we put a little something together just to say how much we all love you here."

DeGeneres then unveiled the video, which showed her fighting back tears as she said of Boss: "I don't want to say goodbye."

"I love you like crazy," DeGeneres told a choked up Boss, who responded: "I love you and also I love the family that we've gained here. Something that I'll always remember is that you gave me a place where I can just be myself."

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.