Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss dead at 40
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Stephen “tWitch” Boss has died aged 40 as his wife pays tribute to “the backbone of our family.”
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The DJ and executive producer – who worked on The Ellen DeGeneres Show for nine years having got his big break on So You Think You Can Dance in 2008 – is reported to have died by suicide, and his wife Allison Holker hailed him as someone who “lit up every room he stepped into.”
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In a statement to PEOPLE magazine, Allison said: “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.
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“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.”
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According to TMZ, he was found dead at a Los Angeles hotel on Tuesday after suffering “an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
The outlet added that according to law enforcement sources, Allison, 34, rushed into an LAPD station saying her husband had “left home without his car,” which made her concerned.
Shortly afterwards, police received a call from an L.A. hotel about a shooting, and they found Boss’ body.
When So You Think You Can Dance returned in 2022, Boss took on a role as a judge, and he had previously co-hosted Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings with his wife, with whom he shared children Weslie, 14, Maddox, six, and three-year-old Zaia.
He also enjoyed success in film and TV, with roles in the likes of Step Up All In, Magic Mike XXL and Modern Family.
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The couple shared three children, Weslie, 14, Maddox, six, and three-year-old Zaia.
Celebrities like Questlove and Kerry Washington posted on social media in mourning.
“I have no words man. May his family find resolution in this dark time. May we all find peace of mind in our everyday lives. Everyday is a winding road and you just may never know who is on the edge,” Questlove posted on Instagram.
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“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 also posted on Instagram.
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– with files from The Associated Press