Allison Holker Boss, the wife of the formerEllen DeGeneres ShowDJ, shared an emotional statement with PEOPLE on Wednesday, confirming the news.
Stephen “tWitch” Boss.Getty
SYTYCDcreator and judgeNigel Lythgoetold PEOPLE in a statementthat he was"heartbroken and devastated" and “at a loss to understand how someone as loved and as inspirational to so many people as Stephen was can feel they are in such a dark place that they have no other choice but to end their life.”
“With Twitch, that is unimaginable to me,” he continued, in part. “He always had that broad smile and a joy of life. Everyone who met him loved him …. The dance community will be reeling today but my deepest sympathy goes out to his wife, Allison and their children. It’s important to recognize that mental health is a real problem and sometimes goes unnoticed in our loved ones. As we go into this happy time of the year for so many of us we must recognize that stress and dark emotions appear to be heightened in others.”
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In a statement of their own, Fox Entertainment, 19 Entertainment and Dick Clark Productions — which producesSYTYCD— told PEOPLE: “We will always remember Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss for the light and joy he brought into our lives and into the hearts of so many. This tragic, painful loss of such a radiant, inimitable talent and beloved friend is immeasurable beyond words, and we grieve alongside his family, loved ones and fans. ‘tWitch,’ we will miss you dearly.”
Nigel Lythgoe and Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss.Angela Weiss/Getty
“I’m heartbroken. tWitch was pure love and light,” shewrote on Instagram. “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.”
Justin Timberlake, a friend of Boss’s for over 20 years,said in a tweet: “It’s heartbreaking to hear that someone who brought so much joy to a room, was hurting so much behind closed doors. I’ve known Twitch for over 20 years through the dance community - he always lit everything up. You just never know what someone is really going through.”
JoJo Siwa, who served as a judge onSYTYCDbeside Boss,wrote a touching tribute on Instagram, where she sweetly called Boss “forever the world’s dance dad.”
Dancing with the StarsproCheryl Burkealsoreacted on Instagram, sharing two photos with Boss. In her post, she remembered him “for being so joyful, inspirational, and for always putting a smile on my face.”
“My heart breaks for @sir_twitch_alot, @allisonholker and their beautiful family. Twitch, thank you for representing the dance world with such positivity and grace but more importantly, as a human being,” she wrote. “thank you for being so joyful, inspirational, and for always putting a smile on my face. May your soul rest in peace my friend. 💔”
Channing Tatumsharedan Instagram photo with Bossand wrote beside it, “I have no words. There aren’t any. My head or heart can not understand this. There is just so much… i don’t know where to begin. I love you. I’ll see you again my friend. Until then.”
Katie Couricwrote how “this is so, so sad.” She continuedon Instagram, “Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss, the beloved DJ and producer on theEllen DeGeneresShowand dancer who rose to fame onSo You Think You Can Dance, has died from suicide. He was 40 years old.”
Jada Pinkett Smithpennedan extensive statementin response to the news. “I woke up this morning to the news that tWitch is gone. My heart aches for his wife Allison and their children Weslie, Maddox and Zaia,” she wrote alongside a photo of the pair withDonald Glover.
“My condolences to all his loved ones that he has left behind. We had a lot of good times on the set ofMagic Mike,” she continued. “He was so sweet, kind and generous. So many people suffer in silence. I wish he could have known that he didn’t have to. May his beautiful, shining soul rest in the arms of the Great Supreme and may that same Higher Power heal the shattered hearts of his loved ones.🕊️.”
“What is going on?! This news has broken my heart. I’ve loved him since #SYTYCD.He was always so joyful & full of life. Always,“Yvette Nicole Brownwrote via Twitter. “Oh, tWitch!💔.”
Brown added: “If you are feeling despair PLEASE call 988. #PleaseStay.”
FormerEllen DeGeneres Showproducer Andy Lassnershared a photo of the pairfilming an episode withEllen DeGeneres. “Rest, my friend,” he captioned the post.
Beneath Lassner’s post, actressBeth Behrscommented with three red broken heart emojis. She also wrote on her Instagram Story: “Rest in peace my friend. What a joy it was to know you and laugh with you.”
Sophia Grace Brownleeand cousin Rosie McClelland, who appeared together onThe Ellen DeGeneres Show, also paid tribute to the late star.
“My condolences to your family and loved ones,” Brownlee shared alongside a collage of the pair with Boss on her Instagram Story Wednesday. “Thank you for always making the show so fun for me and rosie, you will never be forgotten rest easy.”
“tWitch, you will always be part of our Ellen Family, thank you for making everything so fun for us,” McClelland added along of a video montage of the cousins with Boss. “Me and Sophia were so lucky to have worked with you, sending all the love to your family, children and friends, love Rosie and Family 💔”
SYTYCDalum andDancing with the StarsproJenna Johnson Chmerkovskiyshared a video of Boss dancing on Instagram and wrote beside it, “may you forever be dancing in heaven and wearing that smile that lit up the world💔”
Jenna Johnson’s Instagram Story.Jenna Johnson/Instagram
Jenna’s husband andDWTSpro,Val Chmerkovskiypenned atouching tribute on Instagrambeside a video of Boss smiling.
“To a man that had touched so many with his beautiful spirit and infectious smile. Rest in peace my friend, I hope you finally found it,” he wrote. “You were an example for me and so many of us trying to make our little fifteen minutes into a two hour special in this strange and at times brutal world of entertainment. You were the example not solely because of the success you had but the grace with which you carried it. You did it without stepping over anyone without switching up or selling out. You were kind, always thoughtful, and always kept it one hundred thousand. That’s why as a community we loved you!”
“You were exactly the representation we wanted and we’re proud to have. Always checking in when you saw I, or my family, was going through stuff always offered help, and sometimes gave it without even asking,” he continued. “You will be dearly missed, you will be ferociously celebrated for years to come, and I just hope you knew how much you were loved before you went. The ones that smile the brightest may be the ones that hurt the most. I can’t believe I’m writing this. #RIPStephenBoss #RIPtWitch”
Val’s brother andDWTSalumMaksim Chmerkovskiyalsoshared a tribute on Instagram. “I’m at a loss for words… I wrote few paragraphs and deleted everything because it’s all so irrelevant right now. I have so much to say, but I just want to hold on to the memories I have and not try to wrap my head around this.”
“What we don’t see is what we don’t understand. Everybody has pain. Trauma and depression are very real, yet too often stigmatized, ignored or trivialized,” Kodjoe continued. “Don’t assume, don’t judge, just check in and be there.Just love. Dance in peace, my friend. 🙏🏾❤️”
“Thanks for always laughing and smiling with me,” he continued. “Stephen ‘tWitch’ gone way too soon 💔💔💔. RIP tWitch.”
Ina separate post, Acho added: “I’ve never known a man to radiate joy the way tWitch did. Every time we connected the only thing that could exceed the laughter were the smiles. tWitch, your last text message to me a few months ago said, “sending love and light always.” You better believe I’m holding you to that. My friend, my brother, my role model, you’ll be missed. #RIPtWitch. 💔”
Jodie Sweetinrevealed that she was still “in a lot of shock” after hearing the news. She toldEntertainment Tonightthat Boss was “such a talentand such an amazing, warm, wonderful heart” who will be “greatly missed.”
“I spent an afternoon with him filmingBen’s Workshopand I was so impressed with he and Allison’s easy kindness and playfulness with the precious kids we filmed with that day at @thesocialclublaurel,” Napier, 37, recalled in an Instagram Story post. “He radiated joy and genuine caring.”
She added: “This is so shocking. God bless their family. We are just so deeply sorry, @allisonholker.”
“Sometimes the happiest looking people from the outsideare struggling on the inside. RIP Twitch #RIPTwitch,“Tommy Chongtweeted.
SharingPEOPLE’s poston Boss' passing,Viola Davissaid on Instagram: “I’m at a loss for words right now, praying for his family and loved ones. 💔🕊🙏🏿.”
Real Housewives of New JerseystarMelissa Gorganoted how “devastating” news was beneath PEOPLE’s post.Jersey Shore’sMike “The Situation” Sorrentinocommented with a prayer hand emoji whileVery CavallarialumBrittainy Taylorreplied with a crying face emoji.
“The world lost a bright light today,“Kerry Washingtontweeted. “Twitch brought joy and love to people all over the world through music and through dance. My heart is heavy today for his family and all of those who knew and loved him.”
Washington continued ina second tweet, “You never know what people are struggling with or going through. Hug your loved ones. Call your friends. Reach out to people in need. And if you or someone you know is in a crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK. ❤️.”
AsLoni Lovetweeted videos of the two dancing together at his 40th birthday party, she noted what “a kind soul and a sweet person” Boss was.
“My heart goes out to his family especially Allison and their beautiful kids,” she continued. “This is devastating … I love you brother and will miss you dearly.”
“Heartbroken to hear the news of tWitch’s passing,” Backstreet Boys croonerHowie Doroughwrote, sharinga videoof the pair dancing.
Sharingan extensive statementof her own, Destiny’s Child singerMichelle Williamsbegan: “I don’t like news like this! Who does? My heart goes out to his wife, children and family!”
“There are moments in your life where it can feel really heavy, uncertain, or scary. Times when you feel NO ONE understands, times when you feel like you may be a burden if you share what you’re really dealing with,” she continued. “I learned that it’s not true……I promise you…. I know!! Twitch, you brought so much joy to the world with your art, as a husband, father, son and friend!! You will be missed!!”
Ciarauploadeda videoof the pair dancing together onTheEllen DeGeneresShowset, writing: “I am so crushed to hear the news that you are no longer with us.”
“I’ve always known you as joy, laughter, good times, and a big smile! Heaven has gained an angel today,” she wrote. “May you rest in paradise. Praying for your family during this difficult time ❤️🙏🏽”
“Remembering a life well lived. Please keep the family of Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss in your prayers,“Billy Porterwrote on Instagram. “And please check on your friends. Even the ‘strong’ ones, the ‘happy’ ones. We never know what folks are going thru. 🙏🏾🕯.”
In a post of her own,Octavia Spencerwrote: “I am incredibly saddenedto hear about Stephen Boss', aka DJ tWitch, passing.”
“tWitch brought happiness and light to so many people and he will be dearly missed,” she added. “My heart goes out to his wife, children, friends, family and fans 💔🕊️”
Postinga videoof them dancing together,Snoop Doggwrote: “R. I. P. Twitch. Save a dance for me 😢🌹🙏🏾”
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Boss was best known for being a DJ and co-executive producer onTheEllen DeGeneresShow. But he also made a name for himself onSo You Think You Can Danceas a contestant and latera judgewhen the series returned in 2022.
source: people.com
