Matthew Wright’s family is asking for help bringing him home after the former Ellen DeGeneres Show producer died in Los Angeles on Friday. Wright was 52 and had worked with DeGeneres for 16 years. He is survived by his husband, Justin.
A GoFundMe launched Monday set a $50,000 goal, which had been reached by Tuesday morning. The family said Wright’s husband, father, sister and niece are in New York and want to reunite with him for a proper goodbye. It also noted that Wright and Justin had both been laid off over the summer, leaving them unable to manage the unexpected costs.
The fundraiser says donations will go toward bringing Wright to his family, funeral expenses in New York and a memorial in Los Angeles. Any money raised beyond those costs will be placed in a trust for his niece, Sami. The family described his death as an “unfathomable tragedy”; his cause of death has not been disclosed.
Nearly 400 people had donated by Tuesday morning. DeGeneres contributed $5,000, according to the fundraiser, while former executive producer Andy Lassner gave $1,000 and Allison Holker donated $500. Some social media users criticized DeGeneres’ donation, while others speculated that she may have contributed more privately.
DeGeneres remembered Wright in an emotional Instagram video posted Monday, describing him as smart, kind and funny. She said his death was shocking and shared clips of moments he appeared on camera with her.
Sources: Page Six.