Ellen DeGeneres has broken down in tears while announcing the death of Matthew Wright, a former executive producer of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, who died suddenly at the age of 52.
Wright died in Los Angeles on October 30 in what has been described as an “unfathomable tragedy”, according to a GoFundMe campaign established to support his family.
The 68-year-old television presenter shared an emotional video on Monday, remembering Wright as a close colleague who brought humour, kindness and intelligence to the programme.
“He was an amazing guy, he was funny, God, he made me laugh. He would surprise me with things that he did all the time,” DeGeneres said.
“He was smart, he was kind, he was part of our show. Everyone loved him.”
Fundraiser Launched to Support Wright’s Family
The fundraising campaign was created to help Wright’s husband, Justin, and other relatives cover the expenses associated with bringing his body home to New York and arranging his funeral and memorial.
According to the GoFundMe description, Wright’s husband, father, sister and niece are in New York and are hoping to reunite for a proper farewell.
The campaign also disclosed that both Wright and his husband had been laid off during the summer, leaving the family struggling to meet the unexpected expenses following his death.
The fundraiser appealed to Wright’s friends to support his relatives during what it described as an extremely difficult period.
DeGeneres Reveals Plans They Had Been Working On
Becoming increasingly emotional during her tribute, DeGeneres disclosed that she and Wright had been preparing to work together on another project that was due to begin soon.
“I loved him and it’s just shocking. We were working on a project together that we were supposed to start,” she said.
The former presenter described Wright as the person who held the show’s wider team together, adding that his absence would be deeply felt.
“We’re gonna miss him. He is and always will be the glue to our entire family at the Ellen Show,” she added.
DeGeneres also spoke about Wright’s close friendship with Stephen “tWitch” Boss, the former Ellen DeGeneres Show DJ and dancer who died by suicide in 2022.
She said: “And he and tWitch were so close. And now he and tWitch are together, dancing and laughing.”
Wright Spent 16 Years Working on The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Wright was part of The Ellen DeGeneres Show for 16 years, remaining with the programme until it concluded in 2022.
Following the show’s final episode, he reflected on the experiences and relationships he had developed throughout his time on the production.
“How do I even begin to sum up 16 years of my life?” he wrote at the time.
He recalled making lifelong friends, enjoying memorable experiences, meeting people he admired and finding love during his years on the programme.
Wright also expressed gratitude to the production, writing that he would always appreciate the opportunity he had been given and the way the show had changed his life.
The programme ended in 2022 amid controversy surrounding allegations of a toxic workplace environment.
Fellow Producer Andy Lassner Reveals Final Encounter
Andy Lassner, another executive producer who worked alongside Wright, also shared an emotional tribute, revealing that he had seen his colleague just hours before his death.
In an Instagram post, Lassner explained that the photographs he shared were taken on Thursday while the team was recording its Halloween show.
Wright had visited the production that day.
“A few hours later, he was gone,” Lassner wrote, describing the news as a shock to everyone who knew him.
He praised Wright as both an exceptional producer and a close friend, highlighting the care he showed towards his family.
Lassner particularly remembered how Wright regularly travelled between Los Angeles and New York, often flying back and forth almost every weekend to look after his mother before she died.
“The way he looked after his mom, flying back and forth from Los Angeles to New York practically every weekend before she died, showed what an incredible son he was,” he wrote.
He also extended his condolences to Wright’s husband, Justin, and the rest of his family.
“My heart breaks for his husband, Justin, his family, and all of us who loved him. I was so lucky to work beside Matt for so many years and to call him my friend.
We should have had so much more time with him,” Lassner added.
