Ellen DeGeneres Mourns Former Producer As Family Faces Heartbreaking Struggle
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Matthew Wright, the former “Ellen DeGeneres Show” producer who died Friday, passed away in Los Angeles — and his family has issued a desperate plea for help bringing his body home.
In the GoFundMe created Monday — with a $50,000 goal that has already been reached — Wright’s loved ones noted that the 52-year-old died in Los Angeles on Friday.
According to the fundraiser, “his husband, father, sister and niece are in New York, desperate to be reunited for a proper goodbye.”
The statement highlighted Wright and his husband Justin’s recent layoffs over the summer, adding that “the unexpected costs of getting Matt home, a funeral and a memorial are impossible for the family to bear.”
Wright’s family continued, “If Matt has ever made you laugh, said an encouraging word right when you needed it, or ordered one too many appetizers for the enjoyment of the whole table, now is the time to repay the favor. Please donate what you can.”
The fundraiser made clear that the amount raised will go toward “getting Matt to Justin and Matt’s Family,” as well as covering New York funeral costs and Los Angeles memorial costs — while additional funds “above and beyond will be set up in a trust for Matt’s pride and joy — his niece Sami.”
Wright’s cause of death is not yet known, but his family wrote that he died of an “unfathomable tragedy.”
Nearly 400 people have donated to the cause as of Tuesday morning.
Andy Lassner, the former talk show’s executive producer, donated $1,000 to the fundraiser.
Meanwhile, Allison Holker, the widow of the show’s late DJ, Stephen “tWitch” Boss’ widow, contributed $500.
As for Ellen DeGeneres, who worked with Wright for 16 years on her talk show, the comedian donated $5,000.
A slew of social media users raged against the amount as a “slap in the face,” while others have speculated she “privately” contributed more.
DeGeneres mourned Wright in a tearful Instagram video posted Monday.
“God, he was an amazing guy,” she said in the emotional upload. “He made me laugh, he would surprise me with things he did all the time.
“He was smart, he was kind,” DeGeneres continued. “I mean, everyone loved him. I loved him. And it’s just shocking, it’s shocking.”
She shared clips of moments Wright appeared in front of the camera with her social media followers.
