Watch: Were Ellen DeGeneres & Stephen “tWitch” Boss Estranged? Allison Holker Says…
Allison Holker is still feeling the pinch in the wake of Stephen “tWitch” Boss’ death.
In her new memoir This Far: My Story of Love, Loss, and Embracing the Light, the widow of the Ellen DeGeneres Show star detailed the “financial mess” she says her late husband left her with after he died by suicide in December 2022 at age 40.
“It’s a misconception that I inherited Stephen’s wealth. The reality is quite different,” Allison wrote in the memoir, released Feb. 4. “He had given away substantial sums of money to family and friends and spent recklessly on drugs and his weird art collections. The tax bill that he left me with for the year he died was $1 million.”
The 36-year-old—who said Stephen didn’t have a will at the time of his death—added that she and her husband had “always maintained separate bank accounts” during their nine-year marriage, and paying off his tax owings “depleted his accounts.”
“I had been under the impression that the arrangement was working just fine,” she continued. “He managed his income, and I managed mine, and we divvied up the bills. Easy-peasy. Or so I thought.”
And while Allison—who shared kids Weslie, 16, Maddox, 8, and Zaia, 5, with Stephen— said that sorting out her family’s assets “provided a distraction” from her grief, the So You Think You Can Dance alum admitted she’s “still in the trenches” financially.
“If he had known how much of our hard-earned money would go to pay lawyers’ fees to clean up the mess he left me with, would it have made any difference?” she explained. “I’d like to believe it would have. Stephen left me with double the work, double the noise, double the hardships, double the confusion—and half the household earnings.”
Allison previously defended her decision to write the book after coming under fire from members of Stephen’s inner circle, including his brother Dré Rose and his mother Connie Boss Alexander.
“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,” the dancer wrote in an Instagram Stories post in January. “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.”
For a look at Allison and Stephen’s family, keep scrolling…
Allison posted a photo of daughter Weslie heading to her high school homecoming dance in October 2023.
Allison shared her first new dance video since Stephen’s death, appearing in a TikTok with daughter Weslie in August 2023. The two danced to a remix of “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic.
Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images
Allison appeared with kids Weslie, Maddox and Zaia at the Los Angeles premiere of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse in May 2023.
Instagram / Stephen “tWitch” Boss
“Thankful for family. Thankful for health. Thankful for love. Thankful for life,” Stephen wrote on Instagram in November 2022. “Sending y’all so much love from our family to yours. #bossfamily #turkeyday.”
Instagram / Allison Holker
The family dressed up as the Addams Family.
Instagram / Stephen “tWitch” Boss
“Happy Father’s Day!!!!” Stephen wrote on Instagram in June 2022. “Being a father to these three incredible children has been the greatest gift and duty ever. Big love to all the fathers and father figures out there. I hope you are showered in love today!! #fathersday”
Instagram / Stephen “tWitch” Boss
Stephen appeared with Allison, Weslie, Maddox and Zaia on Father’s Day 2022.
Stephen appeared with son Maddox in March on the child’s 6th birthday in March 2022.
“Happy birthday son,” he wrote on Instagram. “Can’t believe this little prince Boss is already 6 years old. Where has the time gone. When did he get so tall? So smart? So capable and self reliant. Too quickly is the answer. But I couldn’t be more proud of the light he continues to bring to the world. Also, how everyday he is teaching me to be a better father and man…….as I’m teaching him. It’s a beautiful cycle.”
YouTube/OFFICIAL BOSS FAM
Instagram / Stephen “tWitch” Boss
The family members wore matching Children’s Place holiday PJs and showcase their dance moves in September 2021.
Instagram / Stephen “tWitch” Boss
TikTok / Stephen “tWitch” Boss
Stephen danced with son Maddox.
TikTok / Stephen “tWitch” Boss
The two danced with their son Maddox in January 2021.
FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images
The two appeared with their kids Weslie and Maddox at the premiere of Disney’s Mulan reboot.
Instagram / Stephen “tWitch” Boss
On New Year’s Eve 2019, Allison shared this photo of herself with Stephen and youngest kids Maddox and Zaia, and reflected on their love story.
“An incredible decade!!” she wrote on Instagram. “In this decade, Weslie and I moved to LA, I met Stephen and fell in love , we got married, we explored the world, we have amazing memories from our careers, I was able to create & grow with dance on SYTYCD, HIT THE FLOOR and DWTS. Hosted DISNEYS FAIRY TALE WEDDINGS. My favorite part was growing our family, having our beautiful children! #decade #newyearseve #funtolookback #life #love #experience #memories #newyork @sir_twitch_alot.”
Instagram / Allison Holker
At 40 weeks pregnant and due to give birth to their daughter Zaia any day, Allison shared this video of herself dancing with Boss in November 2019.
The two appeared with their kids Weslie and Maddox at the premiere of Disney’s Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
The couple and their kids Weslie and Maddox attended the premiere of Disney’s Ralph Breaks the Internet in Hollywood.
If you or someone you know needs help, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.
