‘We lost a good guy’ – Ellen DeGeneres in emotional tribute to producer

Ellen DeGeneres fought back tears as she paid tribute to producer Matt Wright following his death aged 52.

A GoFundMe campaign set up for Wright’s family announced he died following an “unfathomable tragedy while working remotely” in Los Angeles on October 30.

Wright had worked as an executive producer on DeGeneres’s talk show from 2006 until it ended in 2022.

Sharing a video on Instagram in which she fought back tears, the 68-year-old called Wright the “glue to our entire family”.

She said: “He was an amazing guy. 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.

“It’s just shocking, it’s shocking. We’re gonna miss him. He is and always will be the glue to our entire family at the Ellen Show.”

She added: “To Justin his husband, and his family, I am so sorry. We lost a good guy.”

Referencing Ellen Show co-executive producer and guest host Stephen “Twitch” Boss – who died aged 40 in 2022 – DeGeneres added: “He and Twitch were so close. Now he and Twitch are together, dancing and laughing.”

DeGeneres also said she and Wright had been working on another project together that they had been due to start soon.

She also posted a series of highlight reels from Wright’s appearances on the show.

Commenting on the post, Modern Family actor Eric Stonestreet said: “Everyone loved him is right. And Matt is who started the ‘let’s scare Eric every gosh darn time he’s on the Ellen show tradition!! Rest in peace Matt. Love to his family.”

Ted Lasso actress Hannah Waddingham added: “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.”

Jennifer Hudson also paid tribute to Wright – who went on to work on her talk show after The Ellen Show ended.

Posting a picture of them on set together, she wrote: “So saddened by the loss of Matt Wright, one of our former producers who helped launch @jenniferhudsonshow.

“He was just back to visit on Thursday for our Halloween show! He made such a huge impact on so many people in this industry and beyond! My heart goes out to his family and loved ones. Rest in peace, Matt!”

Former Ellen Show executive producer Andy Lassner shared photos of himself and Wright on the set of Hudson’s show, which he said were taken just “hours” before his death.

He wrote: “We are all in shock. He was a brilliant producer and an even better human being. The way he looked after his mum, flying back and forth from Los Angeles to New York practically every weekend before she died, showed what an incredible son he was. He gave that same depth of love to his friendships.

“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.”