He literally danced into our lives a few years ago on what has become one of the best dance show competitions on television. He would go on to be a DJ and an executive producer on one of the most iconic daytime talk shows in television. Above all he was devoted husband and father who showed us all you can be a grounded individual who can shine in front of the world. But he also showed us that while everything might seem great on the surface that you never know what someone is dealing with behind the curtain.
Stephen “Twitch” Boss, who first came into
the public eye on “So You Think You Can Dance” and as a DJ, co-host, and Executive
Producer on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” from 2014-2021 died by suicide on Tuesday. He
was just 40 years old and is survived by his wife and fellow dancer Alison
Holker and their three children Weslie Renae (Holker’s daughter, who was
adopted), Maddox, and Zaia.
Boss was found dead by a maid of an
Encino, CA hotel on Tuesday, according to a report from radaronline.com. The
manager of the hotel, who chose not to be named said that Mr. Boss checked into
the hotel on Monday arriving without a car. Even though it has been reported
that Boss died because of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the manager said he
did not hear any gunshots.
When Boss failed to checkout at the designated
11 a.m. time the following day, the manager said that he sent a maid to his room
and entered the room with her key. The manager told radaronline.com that Boss’ body
was found unresponsive in the bathroom of the room.
The local authorities were immediately
called after the maid to the manager of the horrific scene. But the manager was
unable to tell the authorities where Boss’ wounds were located.
The manager told authorities that there
was no suicide note visible, but Boss did have a small bag with him when he
arrived at the hotel. That same bag was found in the room at the time of his
death. That bag was confiscated by the police, that could contain a suicide
note.
Boss and Holker’s acquaintances, celebrity
friends and peers said they were “shocked” and in “disbelief” over the news of
Boss’ passing adding that their hearts go out to Holker and the couples three
kids.
Legendary musician and DJ McLyte said on
her Instagram page, “I am soooo at a lost on this one.”
ABC News’ “Good Morning America” co-host
and FOX NFL Sunday studio host Michael Strahan said on his Instagram page about
“tWitch,” that he was a “real brotha.”
“You are loved and will be missed. Your
legacy will always be remembered. Sending my love and condolences to Allison,
his kids, and family.”
Former First Lady Michelle Obama said on Instagram
about ‘tWitch,’ who took part of her “Let’s Move!” campaign when she served at
the White House that she was “heartbroken” when she learned of his passing.
“Stephen was an incredible force—someone who
radiated kindness and positivity and made sure that people around him could feel
it, too,” Mrs. Obama added.
“We felt his spirit in every dance, Every
DJ set, every piece of creativity that he brought to life. My heart goes out to
his wife, Allison, and their three children Weslie, Maddox, and Zaia.”
Holker in an emotional statement, which confirmed
her husband’s passing 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 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."
“tWitch” and Holker had just celebrated
their ninth wedding anniversary over the weekend and shared heartfelt tributes
about their love at the start of this week.
The couple, who served as host of “Fairy
Tale Weddings” on Disney+ and Freeform from 2018-2020 also appeared recently on
“The Jennifer Hudson Show,” nearly four weeks ago and one of the topics discussed
was about having a fourth child.
“I love the little babies. I love them,”
Boss said about the possibility of he and Holker having another kid. “It’s a
constant conversation.”
Holker according to a report went to the
Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) on Tuesday to inform them that her husband
left their home without his car, which she said was unusual for her husband to
do. It is also unclear why Holker waited until Tuesday to inform the LAPD of
her husband’s disappearance when he left 24 hours earlier.
Boss was born in Montgomery, AL and earned
the nickname “tWitch” as a young boy
because he could not sit still. He graduated from Lee High School in
Montgomery, AL in 2000 and went on to study Dance Performance at Southern Union
State Community College and then Chapman University in Orange, CA.
In 2003, Boss was a semifinalist on MTV’s “The
Wade Robson Project” and also was a
runner-up on the television talent competition show, “Star Search.” His journey
as a major figure in our everyday lives on television began as a contestant on
the fourth season of FOX’s reality dance competition show, “So You Think You Can
Dance?” in 2008.
He also performed on ABC’s reality dance
show, “Dancing With The Stars” with Holker.
Boss really shot to fame as Ellen DeGeneres’
sidekick for nearly a decade, eight years to be precise on “The Ellen DeGeneres
Show” where he first brought on as a guest DJ and stayed with until the shows
conclusion last May. Whether he was rocking sounds as a DJ. Dancing it up, especially
with the audience, “tWtich” shined on the show and gave us another reason to
tune into Ellen.
“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.”
Boss was also a film star with roles in “Stomp
The Yard: Homecoming” in 2010. He also starred as Jason Hardlerson in the “Step
Up” trilogy: “Step Up 3D” and “Step Up 3D” in 2010 and “Step
Up Revolution” in 2014. In 2015, ‘tWitch’ was a part of “Magic Mike XXL.”
Boss was also a very popular figure on
social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, where he shared videos
of him dancing with his wife as well as videos of him and his kids dancing.
Boss and Holker were all-star dancers on
Season 7 of “So You Think You Can Dance,” in 2010 and connected romantically.
“We shared a dance at the wrap party of
that season of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ and we have been together ever
since,” Boss told “People” last February.
“There was no dialogue, there was no
conversation or a first hangout. Literally, we danced and we were together
holding hands the very next day,” Holker added. “And we never looked back.”
The final post that Boss had on Instagram on
Monday was of him and Holker dancing in front of a Christmas tree.
There will come a time where will learn
why Stephen “tWitch” Boss took his own life and left behind his wife Allison
Holker and their three children. Then again, we may never learn why he took his
own life.
One thing that has come from this tragedy
is that it is important to let someone know that if you are in crisis that
there is help out there and you never be scared to ask for it.
Even if it means making a call to Suicide
and Crisis Lifeline (call at 988) and talking with a professional, at least you
are talking to someone.
It doesn’t matter how tough of a situation
you might be in, asking for help is better than suffering in silence.
In the case of Stephen “tWitch” Boss, his suffering ended with him taking his own life in a hotel room not too far from his L.A. home during one of the most precious times of the year, the Christmas holiday.
Information and quotations are courtesy of 12/14/2022 7 p.m. edition of “Inside Edition” with Deborah Norville on WCBS TV in New York, NY; 12/14/2022 www.cnn.com story, “Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss, DJ for ‘Ellen DeGeneres Show,’ Dead at 40,” By Lisa Respers France and Stella Chan; Instagram post on 12/14/2022; 12/15/2022 www.radaronline.com story, “Stephen ‘tWitch” Boss’ Body Found In Hotel Bathroom By Maid After Missing Check-Out Time;” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapman_University; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_%22tWitch%22_Boss.