Ellen DeGeneres has paid tribute to her friend and DJ Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the Oak Tree Motel in Los Angeles. It’s alleged the 40-Year-Old used his name to check into the motel – a 15-minute walk from his home, on Monday but wasn’t discovered until Tuesday morning.
Boss is said to have shot himself in the head but no one heard the gunshot at the motel, describing the scene as pretty bad.
DailyMail reported he left home [pictured below] on that Monday without his car and when he didn’t return by Tuesday, his wife Allison Holker frantically ran into a local LAPD station to file a report. Boss had particularly called the motel ahead at about 9:20 a.m. to check if rooms were available, then walked the few blocks from his home looking normal and calm.
The motel staff claimed a maid discovered the DJ’s body [pictured with his wife Allison] while performing a welfare check after he failed to check out.
“He went into his room, and he never came out. At 11.15 am on Tuesday, the maid opened the door to check on the room. There was his stuff in there but no one there. She checked the bathroom, and there was blood everywhere. She was very scared. This is the first time anything like that has happened here. We called 911, and they told us to check his pulse but there was nothing,” the Manager of the Oak Tree Inn, Rakesh explained.
Rakesh added: “The paramedics and the police came and they said he was dead. Maybe he did it during the day on Monday. It’s a busy, loud road outside here, it’s possible nobody heard it because of that.”
Boss worked on Ellen’s show from 2014 until it ended in 2022 and he was made an executive producer in 2020. In a tribute, Ellen expressed: “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, Wesile, Maddox and Zaia.”
He got his big break in showbiz in 2008 when he was runner-up on ‘So You Think Can Dance.”
@twitchtok7 Love this dance by @shedancega & @Mr.animated ❤️❤️ Surprise cameos by @allisonholkerboss & #Zaia ♬ Lights, Camera, Action! – Remix – Instrumental – Mr.Cheeks
As per TMZ, he went on to do some acting, landing several roles where he could show off his dance skills. Boss played Jason in the Step-Up movie franchise and he was also in Magic Mike XXL. He also hosted numerous reality shows including, The Real Dirty Dancing, which aired on Fox earlier this year and he and Allison teamed up for Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings on Disney+.
Boss’ death, however, comes three days after he and his wife Allison celebrated their 9th wedding anniversary and as they posted a heartfelt video of themselves dancing in front of a Christmas tree.
The couple [seen here with their children] also posted a video on their YouTube, appearing happy for a beginner’s dance cardio workout two days before.
So far, his family members have arrived at his home to look after the grieving wife and children. Allison herself has said in a statement to PEOPLE: “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.”
Allison shared that Boss was the backbone of the family, the best husband, and father, and an inspiration to his fans.
She continued: “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 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.” Co-workers on the Ellen show have since been left shocked by Boss’ sudden passing.
Andy Lassner, Ex-executive producer of the Ellen show paid tribute to Boss, saying “Rest, my friend,’ along with a photo of the two of them and Ellen.
One of Boss’s colleagues on the Ellen show also told US Sun: “No one can ever understand why someone would do this, but this is entirely out of character for him. I’m at a loss for words. We are all trying to process what has happened.” Boss had been seen for the last time in September publicly. At the time, he admitted to missing the Ellen show, which he said made its mark on history.
The DJ claimed life has been great and that he honestly has a lot more time at home while the kids are back at school.
Speaking of the Ellen show, he said “there will be nothing like that show ever again. It’s definitely made its mark on history and it was one of the greatest places to be in the afternoon.” On the other hand, a statement from Fox Entertainment, Dick Clark Productions, and 19 Entertainment, reads: “We will always remember Stephen tWitch Boss for the light and joy he brought into our lives and into the hearts of so many.”
