Ellen DeGeneres is mourning the death of her longtime talk show producer, Matthew Wright.
Wright, 52, died October 30 in what is described on GoFundMe as an “unfathomable tragedy” while working remotely in Los Angeles. He worked on Ellen for 16 years, until the daytime talk show’s 2022 conclusion.
Further details weren’t immediately available.
“So Matt Wright, who was our executive producer and was featured on our show a lot, died the other day,” a teary-eyed DeGeneres began in an Instagram video posted Monday.
“And he was an amazing guy,” she continued, growing emotional. “He was funny. God, he made me laugh. He would surprise me with things that he did all the time. He was smart. He was kind. He was the part of our show that — I mean, everyone loved him.
“I loved him. And it’s just shocking — it’s shocking,” she added.
DeGeneres said she and Wright were about to start a project together at the time of his death.
“We lost a good guy. He was a good guy,” she continued. “He and tWitch were so close, and now he and tWitch are together dancing and laughing,” she added, referencing the long-time DJ on her show who died in 2022 aged 40.
DeGeneres concluded the video with a montage of Wright’s moments on Ellen.
The comedian also donated $5,000 to the GoFundMe established to aid Wright’s family. At the time of publication, more than $42,000 had been donated, approaching the goal of $50,000.
“His husband, father, sister and niece are in New York, desperate to be reunited for a proper goodbye. We’re asking for all of his friends, who Matt loved so fully, to help the family at this time,” the fundraiser description read.
“As many of you know, Matt & Justin were both laid off this summer. And the unexpected costs of getting Matt home, a funeral and a memorial are impossible for the family to bear.”
In addition to DeGeneres, Wright’s fellow Ellen colleague Andy Lassner paid tribute on Instagram.
“These photos were taken Thursday, while we were taping our Halloween show. Matt came by to visit,” Lassner wrote, sharing a trio of images of himself and Wright on the set of The Jennifer Hudson Show where Lassner is an executive producer.
“A few hours later, he was gone. We are all in shock,” the caption continued.
“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.”
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