Ellen DeGeneres breaks down in tears after producer dies in ‘unfathomable tragedy’

| Senior TV Reporter Published November 3, 2026 8:19am Updated November 3, 2026 8:19am To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Ellen DeGeneres has shared a tearful tribute to her former show producer Matthew Wright, after his sudden death last week. The 68-year-old former talk show host shared a video in which she initially struggled to deliver the news about Wright’s death, describing him as an ‘amazing guy’ who would routinely make her laugh when they were making The Ellen Show. Wright is understood to have died on Friday (October 30) while working in Los Angeles, in what his family have described as an ‘unfathomable tragedy’ in a GoFundMe set up to cover his funeral expenses. DeGeneres said of Wright in a video shared on Instagram: ‘God, he was an amazing guy. He made me laugh; he would surprise me with things he did all the time. ‘He was smart, he was kind… I mean, everyone loved him. I loved him. And it’s just shocking, it’s shocking.’ She went on to say that they had been working on a project together before his death, adding: ‘We’re going to miss him. He is and always will be the glue to our entire family at The Ellen Show.’ Ellen DeGeneres said she and her former show producer Matthew Wright had been working on a project together before his death (Picture: Ellen DeGeneres/Instagram) Wright is understood to have died suddenly on Friday, while working in Los Angeles (Picture: mwright1010/Instagram) Becoming tearful, DeGeneres struggled to find the right words, sending her well wishes to Wright’s husband Justin and his family. ‘We lost a good guy. He was a good guy,’ she said, adding that he had been close to the late Stephen ‘Twitch’ Boss, who was a DJ on The Ellen Show before his death in 2022. ‘Now he and Twitch are together, dancing and laughing,’ she concluded, before the video played a series of clips of Wright from The Ellen Show. Among the many comments under the post, which has been viewed over 15million times, Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham wrote: ‘I’m so sorry for your loss and to see you in such grief. Sending you my love and holding your hand. Rest in deepest peace Matt.’ DeGeneres said he had been close to the late Stephen ‘Twitch’ Boss (Picture: mwright1010/Instagram) The GoFundMe set up in the wake of Wright’s death has asked for support during ‘an impossible time’, with a goal to raise $50,000 (£37,000), which has already been exceeded, with 380 donations at the time of publication. The description on the fundraiser details how the page has been set up to help move Wright’s body from LA, where he died, to New York, where his family live and are ‘desperate to be reunited for a proper goodbye’. The GoFundMe bio adds: ‘We’re asking for all of his friends, who Matt loved so fully, to help the family at this time. As many of you know, Matt and 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. ‘If Matt has ever made you laugh, said an encouraging word right when you needed it, or ordered one too many appetisers for the enjoyment of the whole table, now is the time to repay the favour.’ Deals of the Day QVC shoppers can save £159 on Elemis' biggest beauty gift set of the year This Hoover vacuum is a game-changer for pet owners and muddy homes See London's Christmas lights from an open-top double-decker bus this winter The skincare formula that finally took the guesswork out of my routine Families can save up to 20% on summer 2027 holidays in Club Med's four-day sale The fundraiser description then concludes: ‘And when you’re at dinner and see a sunset, know that Matt is looking down, loving you, but wildly disappointed in what you ordered.’ Arrow MORE: When is the Baywatch reboot launch date and who’s in the cast? Arrow MORE: Celebs face tricky music teaser on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire US — could you get it right? Arrow MORE: Love Affair frontman Steve Ellis dies aged 76 Switched On Get plugged into the week’s must-watch shows, unmissable moments, and expert reviews with Metro TV Editor Sabrina Barr.