Stephen 'tWitch' Boss Dead at 40: Michelle Obama, Channing Tatum and More Stars Pay Tribute

Celebrities are paying tribute after the unexpected and tragic death of Stephen "tWitch" Boss. The dancer, producer and actor died on Tuesday, his wife Allison Holker confirmed to ET. He was 40 years old.

Boss was found dead after Holker reported that her husband had left home without his car to a Los Angeles police station, TMZ -- who was first to publish the news -- reports. He died of a self-inflicted gun shot wound.

"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," Holker, who shared three children with Boss, said in her statement to ET.

"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."

Closing her statement, Holker shared a final message for her husband. "Stephen, we love you, we miss you, and I will always save the last dance for you," she concluded.

Michael Rozman/Warner Bros.

Boss was known for his role as the house DJ of The Ellen DeGeneres Show from 2014 until the end of the series in 2022. Ellen posted a tribute to her former collaborator on Friday morning, writing  "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 - Weslie, Maddox, and Zaia."

Channing Tatum, who starred with Boss in Magic Mike XXL, shared a photo to Instagram, writing, "I have no words. There aren’t any. My head or heart can not understand this. There is just so much… i don’t know where to begin. I love you. I’ll see you again my friend. Until then."

Michelle Obama also recalled her time with Boss. "I was heartbroken to learn about the passing of Stephen “tWitch” Boss, who I got to know over the years through my Let’s Move! initiative and visits to The Ellen Show. Stephen was an incredible force—someone who radiated kindness and positivity, and made sure that people around him could feel it, too. 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," she wrote. "And if any of you out there are struggling and need someone to talk to, please know that you are never alone. There is always someone ready to help. You can call or text the suicide and crisis hotline by dialing 988."

Fellow musician and friend Questlove took to Instagram to pay honor Boss, writing, "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 & you just may never know who is on the edge. A lot of us can’t process emotions & how to deal with it," he continued. "I’ll admit yesterday was rotten & every minuscule occurrence of a Murphy’s Law nature sent me spiraling. Take time out for yourselves if you feel like you’re on the edge (I know most of us are confused when it comes to darker emotions like sadness and anger—-both healthy to express but becomes problematic when your solution is to figure out how to get rid of the feelings that don’t feel good to you."

He ended his message with: "Take time out for yourselves & sit in silence people. Time literally heals wounds. Rest In Melody Twitch."

Collaborator Paul Feig wrote, "Absolutely devastated by this news. Stephen was such a wonderful loving soul, filled with joy and positive energy. I worked with him several times and he was nothing but amazing. I don’t know what demons he was dealing with but my heart goes out to Alison."

Fellow So You Think You Can Dance star Dmitry Chaplin said in a statement that he is at a "complete loss for words. My heart goes out to Allison and her family, since their loss is even more tragic than ours!" 

"I first met Twitch on SYTYCD when he was a contestant," Chaplin continued. "He was always one of the most modest, friendly, and fun individuals I've ever met. He truly loved the art of dancing and was instrumental in bringing it to the attention of newer generations through television. He will forever be remembered as a friend, a gifted performer, and a kind person." 

So You Think You Can Dance creator and host, Nigel Lythgoe also shared a statement Wednesday in which he said he was "heartbroken and devastated by the news."

"I am heartbroken and devastated at the moment. I’m at a loss to understand how someone as loved and as inspirational to so many people as Stephen was, can feel they are in such a dark place that they have no other choice but to end their life. With Twitch that is unimaginable to me. What were the demons that he kept to himself? He always had that broad smile and a joy of life. Everyone who met him loved him," Lythgoe, who hosted Twitch and Holker's wedding at his vineyard, wrote. "Did he really have no one to talk with that could help him to unload some of his issues? How sad, how very sad. Mental health is a real issue that is often hidden from us  The dance community will be reeling today but my deepest sympathy goes out to his wife, Allison and their children."

"It’s important to recognize that mental health is a real problem and sometimes goes unnoticed in our loved ones. As we go into this happy time of the year for so many of us we must recognize that stress and dark emotions appear to be heightened in others," he continued.

In another statement, Lythgoe continued to share his admiration for the dancer, calling him an "inspiration."

"Twitch was a man who fought his way through adversity. He became an inspiration for so many people who watched his journey. He was a magnificent example of overcoming adversity. Unfortunately one of the problems in our industry is keeping a happy smiling face for the public whatever our true feelings are," Lythgoe added. "I can’t imagine what extraordinary demons drove him into feeling that the only option he had was to end his life. My thoughts are now with his wife, Allison and his children."

Keep scrolling to see more celeb reactions to Boss' death.

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If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

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