Ellen DeGeneres pays tribute after producer Matthew Wright dies

Summarised from 3 outlets · 6 reports · Updated 3 Nov, 20:52 · Archive

Matthew Wright, a 52-year-old executive producer on Ellen DeGeneres's talk show, died on Friday in Los Angeles in what his family described as an 'unfathomable tragedy'.

Matthew Wright, 52, an executive producer on Ellen DeGeneres's talk show for 16 years until the show ended in 2022, died on Friday while working remotely in Los Angeles. His family described his death as an 'unfathomable tragedy' but have not yet revealed the cause.

DeGeneres shared a tearful video tribute on Instagram on Monday in which she described Wright as 'an amazing guy' who 'made me laugh' and would 'surprise me with things he did all the time'. She called him 'smart' and 'kind' and said 'everyone loved him'. DeGeneres stated that they had been working on a project together that they were due to start soon.

She told Wright's husband Justin and his family: 'We're going to miss him. He is and always will be the glue to our entire family at the Ellen Show.' DeGeneres noted that Wright had been close to Stephen 'tWitch' Boss, the show's DJ who died in December 2022 at the age of 40, saying 'Now he and Twitch are together, dancing and laughing'.

Jennifer Hudson, who worked with Wright when launching her own talk show, revealed on Instagram that he had visited the set of her show on Thursday for a Halloween episode, just one day before his death. She described him as having 'made such a huge impact on so many people in this industry and beyond'.

Wright's family launched a GoFundMe campaign with a $50,000 goal to cover the costs of returning his body to New York, where his husband Justin, father, sister and niece live, as well as funeral and memorial expenses. The family noted that both Wright and his husband had been laid off over the summer. DeGeneres donated $5,000 to the campaign. Other contributors included Andy Lassner, a longtime executive producer of DeGeneres's show, who gave $1,000, and Allison Holker, the widow of Stephen 'tWitch' Boss, who donated $500. The GoFundMe reached and surpassed its goal with nearly 400 donations by Tuesday morning.

How it is being reported

• Jennifer Hudson reveals late ‘Ellen DeGeneres Show’ producer was on set with her just 1 day before ‘unfathomable’ death"So saddened by the loss of Matt Wright, one of our former producers who helped launch @jenniferhudsonshow," the "Dreamgirls" star captioned a post.New York Post · 3 Nov, 20:07
• Ellen DeGeneres’ late producer Matthew Wright’s family issues desperate plea for help in returning his body homeThe 52-year-old, who worked with DeGeneres for 16 years, died in Los Angeles on Friday. Wright is survived by his husband, Justin.New York Post · 3 Nov, 14:55
• Ellen DeGeneres donates $5K to late producer Matthew Wright’s family after tearful video announcing his deathThe former "Ellen DeGeneres Show" host sobbed over her employee's passing via Instagram on Monday, raving over Wright as a "good guy."New York Post · 3 Nov, 14:09
• Ellen DeGeneres tearful as show producer, 52, dies after 'unfathomable tragedy'A GoFundMe campaign set up for producer Matt Wright's family announced he died following an 'unfathomable tragedy while working remotely' in Los Angeles on October 30The Mirror · 3 Nov, 09:55
• Ellen DeGeneres breaks down in tears after producer dies in ‘unfathomable tragedy’‘I loved him. And it’s just shocking.’Metro · 3 Nov, 08:19
• Ellen DeGeneres breaks down in tears as she reveals producer has died in ‘unfathomable tragedy’The former daytime talk show host sobbed as she expressed her shock at her former colleague's sudden death.New York Post · 2 Nov, 23:50

In this story: Ellen DeGeneres · Matthew Wright · Stephen 'tWitch' Boss · Jennifer Hudson · Justin · Los Angeles · New York · Ellen DeGeneres Show

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