Matthew Wright, the former “Ellen DeGeneres Show” producer who died Friday, has died in Los Angeles – and his family has made a desperate plea for help to bring his body home.
In the GoFundMe created Monday — with a goal of $50,000 already reached — Wright’s loved ones noted that the 52-year-old died Friday in Los Angeles.
According to the fundraiser, “her husband, father, sister and niece are in New York, desperate to be reunited for a proper goodbye.”
The statement noted Wright and her husband Justin’s recent layoffs over the summer, adding that “the unexpected costs of bringing Matt home, attending a funeral and a memorial are impossible for the family to bear.”
Wright’s family continued, “If Matt has ever made you laugh, said a word of encouragement just when you needed it, or ordered one appetizer too many for the entire table to enjoy, now is the time to return the favor. Please give what you can.”
The fundraiser made it clear that the amount raised would be used to “bring Matt to Justin and Matt’s family”, as well as cover funeral costs in New York and memorial costs in Los Angeles – while additional funds “beyond will be set up in a trust for Matt’s pride and joy – his niece Sami.”
Wright’s cause of death is not yet known, but his family wrote that he died of an “unfathomable tragedy.”
Nearly 400 people donated to the cause Tuesday morning.
Andy Lassner, the talk show’s former executive producer, donated $1,000 to the fundraiser.
Meanwhile, Allison Holker, the widow of the show’s late DJ, the widow of Stephen “tWitch” Boss, contributed $500.
As for Ellen DeGeneres, who worked with Wright for 16 years on his talk show, the comedian donated $5,000.
A large number of social media users criticized the amount, calling it a “slap in the face”, while others speculated that she had contributed more “privately”.
DeGeneres mourned Wright in a tearful Instagram video posted Monday.
“My God, he was an incredible guy,” she said in the emotional upload. “He made me laugh, he surprised me with the things he did all the time.
“He was smart, he was kind,” DeGeneres continued. “I mean, everyone loved him. I loved him. And it’s just shocking, it’s shocking.”
She shared clips of the moments Wright appeared on camera with her followers on social media.
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