Allison Holker has responded to criticism over her decision to include personal details about her late husband, Stephen “tWitch” Boss, in her upcoming memoir.
In an Instagram story posted on Wednesday, Holker addressed fans and followers, clarifying her intent behind the book. “To fans of Stephen, our family, and friends, I want to be clear that my only intention in writing this book is to share my own story, as well as part of my life with Stephen, in the hopes of helping others,” she wrote. “Just like you, I never truly knew what happened, and even as I try to piece it together, I will never fully know.”
Stephen “tWitch” Boss, the beloved DJ from The Ellen DeGeneres Show and dancer who gained fame on So You Think You Can Dance, tragically died by suicide in December 2022 at the age of 40. Just days before his death, he and Holker had celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary.
In an exclusive interview with People magazine, Holker revealed a shocking discovery she made while preparing for her husband’s funeral. As she was sorting through his belongings, she found a variety of substances, including mushrooms, pills, and other drugs. “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.”
Holker expressed how unsettling this revelation was but also noted it helped her begin to understand the depth of her husband’s struggles. “It was a really scary moment in my life to figure that out, but it also helped me process that he was going through so much and hiding so much, and there must have been a lot of shame in that,” she added.
Following the publication of these details, Boss’s mother, Connie Boss Alexander, issued a statement on Instagram Thursday, condemning the revelations. “Our family is absolutely appalled by the misleading and hurtful claims made about my son, Stephen Boss,” she wrote. “The recent publications spreading untruths about Stephen have crossed every line of decency. As his mother, I will not let these accusations go unanswered. We will not stand by while his name and legacy are tarnished. He doesn’t deserve this, and the kids don’t deserve this.”
Connie continued, explaining that she had remained silent for the past two years to protect her family, focusing on healing and staying connected with her grandchildren. However, she expressed that she could no longer remain quiet in light of the claims being made. “When I read these dreadful claims about my baby, our beloved Stephen, I realized I could not stay silent any longer. Our family will ensure his name and memory are protected, and we are committed to defending his honor.”
In her Instagram story, Holker responded by emphasizing that her memoir was meant to celebrate the love and life she shared with Stephen and their three children, while also addressing the more complicated aspects of their lives. “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,” Holker wrote. “I hope that by sharing our full story, maybe I can help someone else who might see themselves or a loved one in Stephen’s story. In sharing, I hope that maybe they can catch some of the red flags I missed before it’s too late.”
Holker also confirmed that all proceeds from her memoir will go to fund Move with Kindness, a mental health foundation she started in Stephen’s honor. “My hope is that we don’t need to lose another husband, brother, father, or friend to suicide,” she wrote.
Boss and Holker, who were both all-star dancers on Season 7 of So You Think You Can Dance in 2010, connected romantically after sharing a dance at the season’s wrap party. “We shared a dance at the wrap party of that season of So You Think You Can Dance and we have been together ever since,” Boss had told People months before his death.
Holker’s memoir, titled This Far, is set to be released on February 4.
