TMZ shocked fans of The Ellen DeGeneres Show when the tabloid reported that Stephen “tWitch” Boss has died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Boss stepped into the spotlight in 2003 when he competed for MTV’s The Wade Robson Project and became a runner-up for Star Search that same year. In 2008, he was also the runner-up for So You Think You Can Dance, which introduced him to his wife, Allison Holker (Make Your Move, Hit the Floor), and led him to guest DJ on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. He worked as the show’s DJ from 2014 until the end of the show this past May and quickly became a fan favorite. In 2020, he was promoted to executive producer. Boss has several acting credits to his name, like the Step Up film franchise and Magic Mike XXL, where he shows off his talented dance moves. Over the summer, Boss returned to So You Think You Can Dance in May as a judge alongside Jojo Siwa (Dance Moms, The J Team) and Matthew Morrison (Glee, Dan in Real Life).
In an exclusive statement with People, Holker confirmed her husband’s 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.”
Ellen DeGeneres took to Twitter to mourn co-host Boss.
During the final season of the daytime television show, DeGeneres shared a special tribute montage dedicated to Boss.
Boss is survived by his wife and three children.