The death of beloved DJ Stephen 'tWitch' Boss has left his friends and family devastated, with his co-workers at the Ellen Show said to be 'shaken' by the tragic news.
Stephen, who became known for his appearances on the talk show, died from suicide on Tuesday morning, it has been reported. He was just 40 years old.
One of his colleagues said his apparent suicide has left everyone lost for words.
A former colleague of tWitch's said: "This is a shock. He was a massive part of Ellen's team – he was part of the family.
"No one can ever understand why someone would do this, but this is completely out of character for him. I'm at a loss for words.
"We are all trying to process what has happened," Stephen's former co-worker told The Sun.
Stephen started DJing on Ellen's show in 2014, and remained with the show until it ended earlier this year. He was made an executive producer on the show two years ago.
It was reported Stephen's wife Allison Holker ran into an LAPD station on Tuesday after she was left deeply concerned he had left home without his car, which was unlike him, a law enforcement source told TMZ.
A short time later, it has been reported that the police received a call for a shooting at an LA hotel, where Stephen was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
A heartbroken Ellen DeGeneres shared an emotional tribute to Stephen after discovering the tragic news of his death.
She posted a photo of herself and tWitch hugging on her Instagram page and expressed her sadness in the caption.
Ellen wrote: "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."
Following the end of the Ellen Show, Stephen had the chan spending more time with his three children — Weslie, 14, Maddox, six, and Zaia, three — and wife, who he married in 2013.
In a statement, Allison said her husband was an "inspiration" and said she would continue to honour his legacy.
She said: "It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to share 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."
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