Ellen DeGeneres has donated $5,000 to a GoFundMe supporting the family of Matthew Wright, a former executive producer of The Ellen DeGeneres Show who died suddenly at 52. The fundraiser’s public donor list also shows a $500 contribution from Allison Holker Boss and $1,000 donations from DeGeneres’ longtime executive producer Andy Lassner and Dancing with the Stars executive producer Conrad Green.
The fundraiser says Wright died on October 30 while working remotely in Los Angeles. His family described his death as an “unfathomable tragedy.” Wright and his husband, Justin, had both been laid off during the summer, and the fundraiser says the family is facing costs to bring Wright’s body home to New York, arrange a funeral and hold a memorial in Los Angeles.
DeGeneres paid tribute to Wright in an Instagram video on Monday, remembering him as funny, smart and kind. She also said they had been planning to work together on a new project. Lassner shared a tribute as well, saying Wright had visited the set of The Jennifer Hudson Show just hours before his death.
According to the fundraiser, any money left after expenses will be placed in a trust for Wright’s niece, Sami.
Sources: TMZ.