Stephen 'tWitch' Boss Advised Not to 'Keep in the Pain' in Resurfaced Video

Video footage of Stephen "tWitch" Boss and his colleagues being advised not to "keep in the pain" as The Ellen DeGeneres Show came to an end in 2022 has resurfaced following his sudden death.

Boss died by suicide at the age of 40 on Tuesday. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner told Newsweek that he was found in the room of a short-term rental apartment block in Encino, California.

News of his passing sparked a flood of tributes across social media from a number of celebrities, including Ellen DeGeneres. She took to Instagram to share a photo of herself embracing Boss on what appeared to be the set of their show.

"I'm heartbroken," the comedian captioned the image. "tWitch was pure love and light. He was my family, and I loved him with all my heart."

DeGeneres added that she "will miss" Boss, before asking her followers to send their "love and support" to his wife, Allison Holker, and their three children.

Johanna Fuentes, a former senior communications executive at Warner Bros., also joined in on the tributes. She posted a video on the platform showing Ellen's then-executive producer Andy Lassner sharing heartfelt words earlier in 2022.

Addressing the adjustment they would all be going through as DeGeneres' show came to an end in May after 19 years on air, Lassner said: "This is a life change and we're all going through it. And it's OK to be sad and to reach out to each other."

Standing in front of Boss and fellow showrunner Mary Connelly while addressing the crew in the clip, Lassner added that "nobody knows this exact experience, other than the people who worked here, the people who represent Ellen, the people at Warner Bros., who have taken care of her."

"We have all been through this—and we went through it together. And you guys should be proud that you've stuck it out," Lassner continued of the long-running daytime show. "You got to see what we've done for 19 years.

"But keep each other close, don't keep in the pain, talk to someone—anyone," Lassner added in his speech, during which Boss—who served as a DJ and co-executive producer on the show—nodded in agreement.

Captioning the haunting clip, Fuentes wrote that she had been "rooting for" the former So You Think You Can Dance finalist and judge "from when I first saw him audition on SYTYCD and every moment in between, including our work at WB and Ellen.

"An immense talent who brought joy to every room he walked into. Am devastated for Allison and their kids, for his friends and his family. He was such a bright light. As Andy said it best as the show wrapped—let's keep each other close. Don't keep in the pain, talk to someone. Anyone."

In May, as her long-running show came to an end, DeGeneres opted to forgo sharing a montage of the best celebrity moments on the daytime favorite and instead honored Boss. The gesture brought the DJ and dancer, who joined the show in 2014, to tears.

"Over a decade ago, I met someone who changed my life, and our show," DeGeneres said. "And I'm talking about you, tWitch, come here."

As Boss joined her on the main stage, DeGeneres told an emotional Boss: "I love you so much and it's been an emotional week... You always make me smile and laugh. Anyway, we put a little something together just to say how much we all love you here."

DeGeneres then unveiled the video, which showed her fighting back tears as she said of Boss: "I don't want to say goodbye."

"I love you like crazy," DeGeneres told a choked-up Boss, who responded: "I love you and also I love the family that we've gained here. Something that I'll always remember is that you gave me a place where I can just be myself."

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "988" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741, or go to 988lifeline.org.