Tributes pour in for Matthew Wright, executive producer of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, who died aged 52 in an ‘unfathomable tragedy’

An ex-executive producer for the Ellen DeGeneres Show died on Friday according to a GoFundMe campaign for his family.

The family, who are based in New York, say Matthew Wright, 52, was working remotely in Los Angeles when he died in what they say was an ‘unfathomable tragedy’.

The page also says Wright and his husband both lost their jobs over the summer, “and the unexpected costs of getting Matt home, a funeral and a memorial are impossible for the family to bear.”

The campaign page continued, “If Matt has ever made you laugh, said an encouraging word right when you needed it or ordered one too many appetizers for the enjoyment of the whole table, now is the time to repay the favor.

“Please donate what you can and share this with anyone who’s been in the orbit of Matt’s huge heart. And when you’re at dinner and see a sunset, know that Matt is looking down, loving you, but wildly disappointed in what you ordered.”

Show host DeGeneres took to her Instagram to post an emotional video tribute to her former colleague, who according to The Hollywood Reporter, worked with her from 2006 to the series conclusion in 2022.

She said, “He was an amazing guy. He was funny. God, he made me laugh. He would surprise me with things that he did all the time. He was smart. He was kind.”

She added, “He was the part of our show that — I mean, everyone loved him. I loved him. And it’s just shocking — it’s shocking. We’re gonna miss him. He is and always will be the glue to our entire family at The Ellen Show.”

She also mentioned Wright’s close friendship with the show’s DJ, Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss, who died in 2022, saying she imagined the two together, ‘dancing and laughing.’

She concluded her video with a series of clips showing Wright’s comedic moments from Ellen.

Loni Love, former The Real co-host wrote on Facebook to pay tribute to Wright after the news of his death left her, ‘devastated and heartbroken’.

She said, “He was such a talented, sweet man and always game for anything. I cannot believe he’s gone.

“What a pleasure it was to have known him. Sending love and heartfelt condolences to his husband, family and all who loved him.”

The GoFundMe post, which sought to raise $50,000 towards funeral costs for Wright, had already passed its goal by the end of Monday.