Stephen “Twitch” Boss was a big personality on stage and off of it. As a runner-up and judge on a dance competition TV program So You Think You Can Dance, actor in the Step Up franchise, and DJ and producer for The Ellen Show, Boss used his talent to empower and inspire people to love dancing. Being a huge fan of So You Think You Can Dance, Twitch encouraged me to love to dance even if I don’t have all the cool moves. Twitch wasn’t just a good dancer; his wife, a dancer, and actress, of nine years, Allison Holker shared how Twitch loves to choreograph dances with her and post them on social media: “We always end up smiling and laughing with each other during it,” Holker gushed to Us of dancing with her spouse. “No matter what’s happening in the day, we know we can check in with each other and dance and it kind of makes everything go away and it’s so much better.” 

On December 13th, motel staff found forty-year-old, Twitch Boss dead with a note hinting investigators to a suicide. But why would the So You Think You Can Dance star commit suicide? According to L.A. Times, “TMZ reported Thursday that Boss’ [suicide] note alluded to past challenges he faced. Theories have included financial problems, but TMZ reported that the dancer was not experiencing any sort of financial hardship in the time leading up to his death, nor has anyone from his family mentioned financial issues.” 

Boss’s fans and close friends have taken to social media to send condolences to his wife and three kids. In an anniversary post days before Twitch’s death, Allison, his wife, expresses her gratitude and love for Boss. Ellen Degeneres, producer and host of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, grieves tremendously for her former DJ, co-executive producer, and very close friend, Twitch in a post saying: “I’m heartbroken. tWitch was pure love and light. He was my family, and I loved him with all my heart. I will miss him. Please send your love and support to Allison and his beautiful children—Weslie, Maddox, and Zaia.” 

Due to Twitch’s death, concern for mental health has been raised especially in the age of social media. Most notably Tyler Perry, an American actor, took to social media to share his struggles with mental health and suicide within the film industry. He encourages listeners to “…please reach out to someone … call, ask for help if you are dealing with anything, anything that is emotionally taking you to a place where you think you want to end your life.”

Twitch’s death was untimely and undeniably emotional. He was a very influential personality who brought joy to many people by doing the things he loved. This season can be a rough time for everyone, so if you know someone or if you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.