A former contributor to The Ellen DeGeneres Show has shared his thoughts on Allison Holker’s newly released memoir, This Far, which explores her life with her late husband, Stephen “tWitch” Boss.
This Far: My Story of Love, Loss, and Embracing the Light arrived on February 4 after weeks of controversy surrounding Holker’s decision to discuss passages from Boss’ private journals and claim that he struggled with drug addiction before his death by suicide in December 2022.
Kalen Allen, who worked as a correspondent and digital creator on Ellen DeGeneres’ daytime program, spoke exclusively with DailyMail.com on Tuesday before taking part in the 9th Annual Blue Jacket Fashion Show in New York City.
“The difficult part is that, from the public’s perspective, those details are juicy information. They are things people want to hear about,” Allen said.
“But for us, this is real life. These are real people we knew and encountered.”
He added that the situation was particularly sensitive because children are involved, referring to Boss and Holker’s children: Weslie, 16, Maddox, 8, and Zaia, 5.
Allison Holker’s memoir, This Far, was published on February 4 after the dancer faced criticism for revealing details from Stephen “tWitch” Boss’ private journals
A former The Ellen DeGeneres Show staff member spoke exclusively with DailyMail.com at the Blue Jacket Fashion Show in New York City on February 4
Kalen criticized the decision to share intimate details about Holker’s late husband, including her allegation that he had struggled with drugs
Allen first met DeGeneres in 2018, after one of his videos went viral, and later worked alongside Boss while creating comedy and entertainment segments for the daytime series.
Boss served as the show’s DJ from 2014 until the program aired its final episode in May 2022.
“I personally don’t believe this is information the public is entitled to, or a discussion that needs to take place in the public eye,” Allen said. “Especially because he is not here to respond or share his own side of the story.”
Asked whether he believed Holker should have avoided publishing the memoir altogether or simply left out certain details, the YouTuber said the decision ultimately belonged to her.
“She can make that choice. She is an adult, and she was his wife,” Allen told DailyMail.com. “She is the person living with the aftermath, and the way she works through her grief is her decision.”
He continued: “I’m not in a position to judge her because I don’t know what that experience or responsibility feels like. All I can do is recognize the choice she made and say, ‘If this is how you need to handle it, then do what is right for you.’”
During her press tour, Holker also revealed that she and Boss had sex during a Glee concert and addressed speculation surrounding her late husband’s friendship with DeGeneres, 67.
Following Boss’ death, some fans wondered whether his relationship with DeGeneres had deteriorated after her show ended, particularly amid the program’s earlier “toxic workplace” controversy.
Allen told DailyMail.com that he did not believe the contents of Holker’s memoir were matters that needed to be debated publicly
Stephen “tWitch” Boss died by suicide in December 2022, several months after The Ellen DeGeneres Show ended; Allen joined the program in 2018
Holker told People magazine on Tuesday that those rumors were “not true,” insisting that Boss and DeGeneres continued to share a close and meaningful bond.
“I don’t like seeing those rumors circulate, and it was disappointing that people tried to bring Ellen into this situation and target her. It wasn’t true,” said the Dancing With the Stars alum.
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“Ellen has been wonderful and has been a source of support. If anything, she was a positive example for Stephen.”
Holker added: “They had a beautiful relationship, and he valued it. What they shared was special, and I hope people understand that it is not something we should tear down.”
DeGeneres attended Boss’ celebration of life in Los Angeles in February 2023, two months after the dancer died at age 40.
The former television host and her wife, Portia de Rossi, relocated to the United Kingdom toward the end of 2024, settling roughly 100 miles away in the Cotswolds. The couple still travels to the United States, including Montecito, California, where many of DeGeneres’ celebrity friends live.
Allen, who remains in contact with DeGeneres, said he understood why she and de Rossi chose to move abroad.
“I understand it. These are frightening times, and things feel unstable,” he said. “When you know what you need to do to find peace, you should go for it.”
Holker recently addressed speculation about Stephen “tWitch” Boss’ friendship with Ellen DeGeneres
Holker said Boss and DeGeneres shared a close relationship that was deeply meaningful to both of them
“She hosted The Ellen DeGeneres Show for such a long time and at such an incredible scale,” Allen said.
He added: “The show ran for 19 seasons. If she decided it was time to step away, that’s wonderful. She did an amazing job, earned her place and built a lasting legacy.”
Allen said he and DeGeneres still exchange text messages “every now and then,” generally discussing the television programs they are watching rather than having “in-depth” conversations.
“She’s not calling me for stand-up material,” he joked.
Allen joined a lineup of celebrities at the Blue Jacket Fashion Show on February 4. The annual event raises money for ZERO Prostate Cancer, a nonprofit focused on prostate cancer advocacy.
Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson, this year’s show also featured Bill Nye, Don Lemon, Mario Cantone, Nigel Barker and other guests.
DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi moved to the United Kingdom at the end of 2024
Allen was among the celebrities who walked in the Blue Jacket Fashion Show, which supports ZERO Prostate Cancer
“New York Fashion Week brings together so many major designers and recognizable names, but it is especially rewarding to walk in a show that supports an important cause,” Allen told DailyMail.com.
“I’m grateful to be part of it and to help raise awareness and funds.”
After appearing alongside Christina Milian in the Netflix film Meet Me Next Christmas, Allen said he is developing several projects with Disney, including The Power of Joy.
“That project matters a great deal to me,” he said. “It focuses on connecting creators from underrepresented communities with opportunities to enter the Disney world, while showing families in our audience what it is like to visit Disney and experience its magic.”
