Ellen DeGeneres donates $5K to late producer Matthew Wright’s family after tearful video announcing his death

See more of our coverage in your search results. Ellen DeGeneres contributed to the fundraiser for her late friend Matthew Wright, the former “Ellen DeGeneres Show” executive producer, after his death at 52. The comedian donated $5,000 to the GoFundMe created to get the 52-year-old’s body home to New York from Los Angeles, as well to help cover the costs of a funeral and memorial. Social media users pointed out that DeGeneres could have “wiped out” the entire $50,000 goal — which was reached and surpassed as of Tuesday morning after nearly 400 donations. Ellen DeGeneres (pictured above on Monday) donated to her late talk show producer Matthew Wright’s family after his death. Instagram/ellendegeneres Wright (pictured above on the right) died Friday in Los Angeles. Instagram/andylassner One claimed, via Reddit, that her contribution was “equivalent to the average person donating 50 cents” or “a coat and a pair of shoes.” While many railed against the amount as a “slap in the face,” others speculated DeGeneres may be “privately” helping Wright’s surviving family cover funeral costs. Some urged haters to “chill out,” noting that DeGeneres appeared “sincere” in her Instagram video mourning the “good guy.” The actress shared the “shocking” tragedy with her followers in tearful footage on Monday. Wright’s family is seeking help getting his body to New York and covering funeral and memorial costs. GoFundMe DeGeneres sent $5,000 toward the fundraiser, which had a $50,000 goal. Instagram/ellendegeneres Want more celebrity and pop culture news? Start your day with Page Six Daily. Thanks for signing up! “God, he was an amazing guy,” she said. “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.” DeGeneres added that she believes Wright and Stephen “tWitch” Boss, the show’s DJ who died in December 2022 at 40, are now “together, dancing and laughing.” Boss’ widow, Allison Holker, made a donation to Wright’s family’s GoFundMe as well, sending $500. Additionally, Andy Lassner, longtime executive producer of the “Ellen DeGeneres Show,” donated $1,000. Social media users have slammed the donation as a “slap in the face.” (Pictured above: DeGeneres in September 2015.) GC Images DeGeneres mourned Wright in a tearful Instagram video Monday. Ellen Wright, per the fundraiser, died Friday while working remotely in Los Angeles. He worked on DeGeneres’ talk show from 2006 until its 2022 finale, appearing in front of the camera on multiple occasions. DeGeneres’ emotional social media upload highlighted a few of those moments. The show wrapped two years after its allegedly “toxic” on-set dynamic of “racism, fear, and intimidation” made rampant headlines. The comedian (pictured above in January 2020) reflected on working with the “good guy.” AFP via Getty Images Wright worked on the “Ellen DeGeneres Show” for 16 years. (Pictured above: DeGeneres in 2021.) Instagram/@ellendegeneres DeGeneres addressed the drama in her 2024 “For Your Approval” comedy special, admitting “the thought of anyone thinking that [she’s] mean was devastating” and “consumed [her] for a long time.” However, she clarified, “After a lifetime of caring, I just can’t anymore. So I don’t.” DeGeneres, who has been living in England with wife Portia de Rossi since late 2024, insisted she is “happy not being a boss or a brand or a billboard, just a person.” Community Guidelines Welcome to the Page Six Community! Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas in a safe space. In order to do so, we've created a simple set of rules that will improve your experience. Simply put, keep it civil. Your post will/might be rejected if it contains: Spam Insults, profanity, incoherent, obscene or inflammatory language and threats of any kind Attacks on the identity of other commenters or the article's author User accounts will/might be blocked if we notice: Continuous attempts to re-post comments that have been previously moderated/rejected Racist, sexist, or homophobic comments Attempts or tactics that put the site security at risk So, how can you be a power user? Stay on topic and share your passion. Feel free to elaborate to get your point across. 'Like' or 'Dislike' when you are filled with emotions! Protect your community. Use the report tool to alert us when someone breaks the rules. Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Don't forget, freedom of speech is not the freedom of reach!