Ellen DeGeneres donated $5,000 to a fundraiser supporting the family of her late friend Matthew Wright, a former executive producer of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” who died at age 52.
The comedian contributed to a GoFundMe campaign established to transport Wright’s body from Los Angeles to his home state of New York and help cover funeral and memorial expenses.
However, DeGeneres’ donation sparked criticism on social media, with some users arguing that she could have easily covered the fundraiser’s entire $50,000 target herself.
Despite the backlash, the campaign had exceeded its fundraising goal by Tuesday morning, receiving contributions from nearly 400 donors.
Wright (pictured right) passed away Friday in Los Angeles.
One Reddit user argued that DeGeneres’ $5,000 donation was comparable to an average person giving just “50 cents” or the cost of “a coat and a pair of shoes.”
Several critics slammed the contribution as a “slap in the face,” while others suggested the former talk show host might be providing additional financial assistance to Wright’s grieving family behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, some social media users defended DeGeneres, urging critics to “chill out” and pointing to her seemingly “sincere” emotions in an Instagram tribute honoring Wright as a “good guy.”
The comedian broke down in tears Monday as she revealed the “shocking” news of Wright’s death in an emotional video shared with her Instagram followers.
Wright’s family is seeking help getting his body to New York and covering funeral and memorial costs.
“God, he was an amazing guy,” she recalled emotionally. “He made me laugh, he would surprise me with things he did all the time. He was smart, he was kind … I mean, everyone loved him. I loved him.”
The former talk show host also expressed her belief that Wright has reunited with Stephen “tWitch” Boss, the show’s beloved DJ, who died by suicide at age 40 in December 2022.
DeGeneres said she imagines the two are now “together, dancing and laughing.”
Boss’ widow, Allison Holker, also showed her support for Wright’s grieving family by donating $500 to the fundraiser.
Andy Lassner, another longtime executive producer of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” contributed $1,000 to the campaign.
DeGeneres paid an emotional tribute to Wright in a tearful Instagram video shared Monday, reflecting on their years of friendship and working together.
According to the GoFundMe campaign, Wright died Friday while working remotely in Los Angeles.
He was a member of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” production team from 2006 until the daytime talk show ended in 2022, occasionally stepping in front of the camera for memorable on-air appearances.
DeGeneres included clips of several of those moments in her heartfelt Instagram tribute, celebrating the late producer’s personality and contributions to the show.
The long-running talk show came to an end two years after it became embroiled in controversy over allegations of a “toxic” workplace environment, including claims of “racism, fear, and intimidation” behind the scenes.
Wright spent 16 years working on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” (Pictured above: DeGeneres in 2021.)
DeGeneres reflected on the workplace controversy in her 2024 Netflix comedy special, “For Your Approval,” revealing that “the thought of anyone thinking that [she’s] mean was devastating” and had “consumed [her] for a long time.”
However, the former daytime TV host explained that she had since changed her outlook, declaring, “After a lifetime of caring, I just can’t anymore. So I don’t.”
DeGeneres, who has been residing in England with her wife, Portia de Rossi, since late 2024, also emphasized that she has embraced life away from the spotlight.
The comedian previously said she was “happy not being a boss or a brand or a billboard, just a person.”
