The family of Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss have opened up about their loved one in the wake of his death earlier this week.
Police have confirmed that the forty-year-old died of suicide, with his cause of death being a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Boss was a DJ and dancing sidekick on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where he founded a close bond with the presenter after they first worked together as a result of his work on So You Think You Can Dance.
The dancer came runner-up in the show’s fourth season, but the success he saw after the show resulted in him appearing as an ‘All-Star’. Earlier this year, Boss even took up a role as a judge on the series.
However, what Boss was best known for has to be his work as a sidekick and DJ for Ellen’s show. The Alabama native went on to become such an integral part of Ellen’s series that he was even made an executive producer in 2020.
The Finding Dory star shared a message on Twitter in the aftermath of her close friend’s passing:
“I’m heartbroken. 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 Allison and his beautiful children – Weslie, Maddox, and Zaia.”
And now, Boss’ closest family members have opened up about the loss of their loved one.
His grandfather, Eddy Boss, shared with the Daily Mail that he last spoke to the dancer over the weekend.
He said the DJ was “same happy-go-lucky person that he’s always been,” and that there were “no signs” that he was troubled.
“We had no indication that anything was out of the ordinary,” Eddy revealed.
“He was a very humble, generous person. He brought light into everybody’s lives.”
The eighty-four-year-old added that the family is “completely devastated”.
“Our question is why?” he asked. “Where did it come from?”
Heartbreakingly, Boss’ “last words” to his grandson were in a “simple text”, which read: “I love you Dad-Dad.”
Per TMZ, the Ellen star’s body was found on Tuesday in the Oak Tree Inn in Monrovia, California. He had failed to check out of his hotel room after checking in earlier that morning, according to The Daily Beast.
His wife, Allison Holker Boss, shared a statement with People about his death.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to share my husband Stephen has left us,” she said.
“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.”
She continued: “I am certain there won’t be a day that goes by that we won’t honour his memory. We ask for privacy during this difficult time for myself and especially for our 3 children.
“Stephen, we love you, we miss you, and I will always save the last dance for you,” the message concluded.
