Ellen DeGeneres broke down in tears on Instagram Monday announcing the sudden death of Matthew Wright, her longtime executive producer.
The former daytime host, 68, filmed herself sobbing as she paid tribute to Wright, 52, who died Friday in what a family GoFundMe described as “an unfathomable tragedy” while he was working remotely in Los Angeles. DeGeneres had known him for nearly two decades and considered him the foundation of her show’s tight-knit crew.
“God, he was an amazing guy,” she said in the video. “He made me laugh, he would surprise me with things he did all the time.”
She continued through tears, “He was smart, he was kind … I mean, everyone loved him. I loved him. And it’s just shocking, it’s shocking.”
Wright spent 16 years on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” joining in 2006 and remaining through the 2022 finale. He appeared on camera repeatedly, often in comedic segments, and DeGeneres stitched several of these clips into her memorial post. Off-camera, she said, he functioned as the connective tissue for the production family.
“He was the glue that held the ‘Ellen DeGeneres Show’ family together,” she stressed.
The two had been planning to collaborate again on a new project before his death, she revealed. She also noted his deep bond with Stephen “Twitch” Boss, the show’s DJ who died by suicide in December 2022 at age 40.
“So now he and Twitch are together, dancing and laughing,” DeGeneres emotionally shared.
The GoFundMe established to assist Wright’s husband, Justin, explained that both men had been laid off this summer. “The unexpected costs of getting Matt home, a funeral and a memorial are impossible for the family to bear,” the page reads.
Wright’s death comes as DeGeneres has largely stepped back from public life. She now lives in the United Kingdom with wife Portia de Rossi, and last month told “The Graham Norton Show” that she misses television. “I think about doing stuff here,” she said, adding with a joke, “I think it is pretty easy to get on TV here.”
Her return to Instagram for this announcement marked a rare unfiltered moment from a figure who has kept a low profile since her show ended under a cloud of controversy. In 2020, ten former employees accused DeGeneres of fostering a workplace environment of “racism, fear, and intimidation.” She addressed the allegations on camera, apologized to those affected, and maintained that her on-air persona reflected her true self.
“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” ran for 19 seasons from 2003 to 2022, becoming one of daytime television’s most successful franchises. Wright’s tenure covered the bulk of that run, spanning the show’s peak cultural influence through its final episodes.
DeGeneres’s tribute video included no mention of the workplace scandal or her subsequent retreat from American media. Her focus remained entirely on Wright’s character and her own grief, a raw display that stood apart from the polished comedy that defined her broadcast career.
“He was a good guy,” she said simply, a characterization she returned to throughout the footage.
The GoFundMe for Wright’s funeral expenses remains active as the family arranges to bring him home and hold services.
“God, he was an amazing guy,” she said in the video. “He made me laugh, he would surprise me with things he did all the time.”
“He was the glue that held the ‘Ellen DeGeneres Show’ family together,” she stressed.
“So now he and Twitch are together, dancing and laughing,” DeGeneres emotionally shared.
“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” ran for 19 seasons from 2003 to 2022, becoming one of daytime television’s most successful franchises. Wright’s tenure covered the bulk of that run, spanning the show’s peak cultural influence through its final episodes.
“He was a good guy,” she said simply, a characterization she returned to throughout the footage.