On December 13, 2022 Stephen “tWitch” Boss passed away by suicide at the age of 40, after more than a decade in Hollywood.

tWitch began his Hollywood Career on the fourth season of So You Think You Can Dance in 2008; he ended the season in second place. tWitch returned to the show as an all-star in 2011, 2012 and 2013, and as a team captain in 2015. He then became a judge on the series in 2018 and 2022.

After rising to fame from his success of So You Think You Can Dance, tWitch also became widely known for his role on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. tWitch was the DJ on DeGeneres’ talk show from 2014 until the show’s finale in 2022. Throughout their eight years together on the show, tWitch and DeGeneres formed a close bond.

tWitch was married to Allison Holker, a contestant on So You Think You Can Dance season 2. The couple had three children together, Weslie Fowler, Maddox Laurel, and Zaia.

tWitch and Holker got married on December 10, 2013; celebrating their ninth wedding anniversary just three days before his death.

On December 14, 2022 Holker released a statement to People, confirming the loss of her husband.

“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. He was the backbone of our family, the best husband and father, and an inspiration to his fans.”

Holker continued, “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. Stephen, we love you, we miss you, and I will always save the last dance for you,”

The tragic loss of a tWitch, a lively TV personality, has sparked concerns and conversations about mental health. Many fans and medical professionals took to social media, the conversations circled mostly around high-functioning depression.

“High-functioning depression is a colloquial term and not a technical clinical diagnosis… The official diagnosis for depression is major depressive disorder” explained Rheeda Walker, Ph.D., psychologist and leading researcher on suicide in the Black community.

Walker continued, “It’s common for people with depression to overcompensate for feelings of emptiness by becoming the life of the party… I was a fan of (tWitch) and ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’ and I can’t help but to wonder if the people who sometimes are the presumably happiest on the outside are the ones who are trying to create something … that they want for themselves.”

While many people only knew tWitch through a screen, his vibrant and positive personality was always apparent. This is one of the many things that left fans shaken and in shock upon hearing the devastating news. Fans expressed how terrifying high-functioning depression really is, since you never truly know when someone is battling.

During his time in the spotlight, tWitch made an inspiring impact on fans. There is no doubt that his success and impact will continue to be honored. The tragic loss of tWitch has left fans devastated and shed light on reminding people to check in on loved ones, even those that constantly have a smile on their face.