Stephen “tWitch” Boss, who was the DJ for the Ellen DeGeneres Show and an acclaimed dancer who came to prominence on So You Think You Can Dance, has passed away, reports People. He was 40.
Allison Holker Boss, his wife and fellow dancer, confirmed his passing in a statement.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to share my husband Stephen has left us,” Holker Boss said in a statement. “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 added. “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,” her statement concluded.
According to reports, he passed from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Last week, the couple celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary.
"Happy anniversary my love @allisonholker #9years," Boss' Instagram post read.
Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Boss started dancing at 16 and was a contestant on MTV's The Wade Robson Project. He also was a runner-up on Star Search.
In 2008, he competed in season four of So You Think You Can Dance, where he came in second place. He returned to the show as an All-Star and was one of the judges in 2022.
Boss then appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show as a guest DJ in 2014, and would eventually become a permanent part of the series. He gained co-executive producer status in 2020.
As an actor, his film credits include roles in Blades of Glory, the Step Up franchise and Magic Mike XXL.
His last appearance on film was in The Hip Hop Nutcracker, which was released this November.
In addition to his wife Allison, Boss is survived by his three children.
We at EBONY extend our prayers and deepest condolences to the family and friends of Stephen “tWitch” Boss.
