A GoFundMe campaign is supporting the family of Matt Wright, a former producer on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, after his sudden death. The fundraiser says Wright died on October 30 while working remotely in Los Angeles, while his husband, father, sister and niece were in New York and hoping to reunite with him for a final goodbye.
The campaign’s message says Wright and his husband, Justin, had both been laid off during the summer. It seeks help with the unexpected expenses of bringing Wright home, holding a funeral in New York and arranging a memorial in Los Angeles. The fundraiser had collected more than $75,000 at the time of publication, exceeding its initial $50,000 goal. Ellen DeGeneres donated $5,000.
Wright’s sister, Mandy, is set to receive the funds and direct them toward bringing him to Justin and his family, as well as the funeral and memorial costs. The campaign says any additional money will be placed in a trust for Wright’s niece, Sami.
DeGeneres remembered Wright as an “amazing guy” who made her laugh. In an Instagram video posted November 2, she called him the glue of the Ellen Show family and offered condolences to Justin and Wright’s relatives.
Wright also helped launch The Jennifer Hudson Show in 2022. Hudson said she was saddened by his death and recalled that he had visited the show the previous Thursday for its Halloween episode. She paid tribute to his impact on people in the industry and beyond.
Sources: Us Weekly.