Yahoo Lifestyle After Facing Immense Backlash For Airing Her Late Husband Stephen “tWitch” Boss’s Personal Struggles, Allison Holker Has Defended Herself With A Lengthy Statement
This article mentions suicide, drug addiction, and sexual abuse.
Allison Holker has issued a statement amid growing backlash toward her recent interview about her late husband, Stephen “tWitch” Boss.
If you missed it, Holker faced fierce criticism this week after she detailed going through Boss’s journals and finding out about his alleged drug addiction and alleged childhood abuse, per People.
Boss, who was an accomplished dancer and beloved fixture on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, died by suicide in December 2022. He and Holker were married for nine years, and they shared three kids during this time: Weslie (Holker's daughter from a previous relationship, but who was adopted by Boss), Maddox, and Zaia.
Holker claimed in an unfiltered interview with People that weeks after his death, she discovered a "cornucopia" of drugs hidden in Boss’s shoeboxes. “I was with one of my really dear friends, and we were cleaning out the closet and picking out an outfit for him for the funeral,” she recalled. “It was a really triggering moment for me because there were a lot of things I discovered in our closet that I did not know existed. It was very alarming to me to learn that there was so much happening that I had no clue [about].”
“He was trying to self-medicate and cope with all those feelings because he didn't want to put it on anyone because he loved everyone so much. He didn't want other people to take on his pain,” claimed Holker, who is set to release a memoir next month.
Holker’s decision to share such sensitive alleged details from her late husband’s private journals was met with scrutiny online — not just from fans, but from some of Boss’s loved ones.
Boss’s longtime close friend, Courtney Platt, branded Holker’s interview “classless” and “opportunistic,” while his brother, Dré Rose, reposted her message and added, “No lies told.”
Holker briefly defended herself amid the heavy criticism, replying to an Instagram comment that accused her of “disgracing” Boss’s name for a “paycheck.” She said, “Just trying to help people feel safe to ask for help and support.”
Now, she has released a longer statement addressing the widespread backlash.
“To fans of Stephen and our family and friends, I want to be clear that my only intention in writing the book is to share my own story as well as part of my life with Stephen to help other people,” she wrote in part on her Instagram stories.
“Just like you, I never really knew what happened, and even as I am trying to put the pieces together I will never really know,” she wrote.
“If you decide to read the book, hopefully you’ll see my intention is to celebrate the love and life I shared with Stephen and our three beautiful children, and also the more complex aspects of both of our lives,” she said. “I hope that by sharing our full story maybe I can help someone else who might see themselves or a loved one in Stephen. In sharing I hope maybe they catch some [of] the red flags that I missed before it’s too late.”
“My hope is that we don’t need to lose another husband, brother, father or friend to suicide,” she added. “I believe that if Stephen were able to choose, he would choose to have his story told if it meant saving even one life. Much love to all those who supported our family these many years.”
Dial 988 in the US to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The Trevor Project, which provides help and suicide-prevention resources for LGBTQ youth, is 1-866-488-7386. Find other international suicide helplines at Befrienders Worldwide (befrienders.org).
Allison Holker Is Being Called Out For Sharing Her Late Husband Stephen “tWitch” Boss’s Personal Struggles After Going Through His Private JournalsLeyla Mohammed · Jan. 8, 2025
Stephen "tWitch" Boss, Dancer And DJ For "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," Has Died At 40Anna Betts · Dec. 14, 2022
Stephen "tWitch" Boss's Widow, Allison Holker, Opened Up About How She Explained His Death To Their KidsRyan Schocket · May 8, 2023
