Stephen “tWitch” Boss’ cause of death was determined to be suicide, according to a report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner.
County officials have confirmed that a 40-year-old professional dancer died of a self-inflicted headshot wound. His death occurred at a motel in Encino, California, on December 13.
The case has been closed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner.
Boss is survived by his wife, Allison Holker Boss, and children Zaia, 3, Maddox, 6, and Weslie, 14.
Heartfelt message
On December 14, Allison shared a statement about his death.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to share that my husband Stephen has left us. 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, father, and an inspiration to his fans,” she said.
“To say he left a legacy would be an understatement, and his positive impact will continue to be felt. 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,” she continued.
Concluding her post, Allison addressed her husband: “Stephen, we love you, we miss you, and I will always save the last dance for you.”
In addition to Allison, Boss is survived by children, Zaia, 3, Maddox, 6, and Weslie, 14.
Celebrities pay tribute.
Boss rose to fame on MTV’s The Wade Robson Project, finishing in second place on Star Search. In 2008, he participated on So You Think You Can Dance and placed second overall, returning as an All-Star. He served as a judge in 2022 when the show returned in 2022.
On The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2014, Boss made his debut as a guest DJ. He later became a permanent personality on the show, and in 2020 he was given the opportunity to become a co-executive producer.
In response to the heartbreaking news, Ellen DeGeneres posted a heartfelt message and a photo of the pair hugging.
“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.” she wrote on Instagram.
Boss’ friends from So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars and celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, JoJo Siwa, and Jada Pinkett Smith paid tribute to him online on social media.