DJ ‘tWitch’ never turned his back on Ellen DeGeneres amid allegations of a toxic workplace.
Stephen Boss, 40, is known for his work on the Ellen DeGeneres show from 2014 until 2022, when the show ended, and appeared to have stayed loyal to the controversial talk show host despite accusations of workplace bullying.
Boss was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a Los Angeles hotel on Tuesday. Before he died, he had commented on working for Ellen and how there was a lot of ‘love.’
‘We can’t speak too much legally about it, but I’ll say this, there’s been love,’ Boss told US Weekly in August 2020. ‘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.’
At the time, Boss noted that he was anxious to get back to work amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The show ended on May 26.
Stephen Boss, also known as DJ ‘tWitch’ on the Ellen DeGeneres show, previously admitted he never turned his back on the controversial talkshow host
Boss, 40, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a Los Angeles hotel, three days after his ninth wedding anniversary on Wednesday
Boss died three days after his ninth wedding anniversary with his wife Allison Holker, 32, who is a professional dancer.
The couple share two kids Maddox, 6, and Zaia, 3. Holker also has a 14-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, Weslie.
At the time of the US Weekly interview, Boss also opened up about enjoying the time he spent with his family during the pandemic restrictions and admitted he would struggle with separation anxiety when it was time to go back to work.
‘All this time at home, being able to be with the kids and the family and all that, it’s just like you know the day when they’re like, “OK, everything’s done everybody go back to work,” I think everybody’s going to have a little bit of separation anxiety.’
The last episode of the show filmed in April and aired in May – marking the end of the show are 19 seasons.
The show suffered a massive hit in ratings following dozens of former employees complaining about racism, sexual misconduct and bullying in a July 2020 report.
Twitch posted a video with his wife Allison Holker just two days before his death, with the couple dancing in front of a Christmas tree
Boss is survived by his wife and their three children, Weslie, 14, Maddox, 6, and Zaia, 3
Coincidentally, Ellen’s show slogan was was ‘Be Kind.’
Some staffers called out the slogan and said it was ‘all for show’ and blamed Ellen for not being around enough to see what was happening with the show’s executive producers.
Ellen addressed the toxic workplace scandal in May that led to three of her top producers being fired in 2020 – Executive producers Ed Glavin and Kevin Leman, and co-executive producer Jonathan Norman.
She called the talkshow controversy a ‘very, very difficult’ time and said that she had been ‘crying every day’ while filming her last season.
”There was a lot that happened during that time that was unfortunate but it is what it is — you go through stuff in life and you just keep learning and growing. That’s how I have to look at it.’
The talkshow host admitted to The Hollywood Reporter that she planned to halt the show three years ago, prior to the allegations. But she was convinced to continue the show a bit longer.
‘They talked me into staying a little longer and I did and it’s fine,’ Ellen told the publication in May.
Boss eventually took over as an executive producer on the show amid the scandal.
He worked on the talk show with Ellen from 2014 until 2022 and was promoted to an executive producer in 2020 before the show ended in May
Before working on the Ellen DeGeneres show, Boss rose to stardom on MTV’s The Wade Robson Project. He then was a runner-up on Star Search.
The talented DJ also performed on the 2008 season of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ and made it to the finals. Boss later returned to the show as a judge in 2022.
He had posted a video busting his dance moves along with his wife in front of their Christmas tree days before he died.
It’s unclear what events occurred that led to him ending up in the Los Angeles hotel room, but an LAPD spokesman told DailyMail.com that there were no signs of ‘foul play.’
The last episode of the show filmed in April and aired in May – marking the end of the show are 19 seasons
Boss left home without his car on Tuesday – which lead to his wife calling the police.
In a heartbreaking statement to People, Allison confirmed his death.
‘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.’
‘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.
‘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.’
‘Stephen, we love you, we miss you, and I will always save the last dance for you.’
