A former staff member from The Ellen DeGeneres Show has come forward to speak out about Allison Holker’s just released memoir, This Far, in which she details private moments about her life with her late husband Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss.
This Far: My Story of Love, Loss, and Embracing the Light was released on February 4, but became controversial weeks leading up to its release due to Allison, 36, sharing details of Stephen’s private journal entries and accusing him of having a drug addiction after he died by suicide in December 2022.
Comedian Kalen Allen, who worked for Ellen DeGeneres as a correspondent and content creator for the show, spoke with DailyMail.com exclusively on Tuesday ahead of walking in the 9th Annual Blue Jacket Fashion Show in New York City.
‘Well, I think the tricky part about [the book] is, like, to the public, that is juicy information, you know. It’s something that they want to tune into.
‘But for us, that’s our real life. These are real people that we encounter.
‘And especially with that specific situation, there are kids involved as well,’ Kalen, 29, said, referring to Stephen and Allison’s kids – Weslie, 16, Maddox, 8, and Zaia, 5.
Allison Holker’s memoir, This Far, was released on February 4 following weeks of the dancer receiving backlash for sharing details of Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss’ private journal entries
A former staff member from The Ellen DeGeneres Show spoke exclusively with DailyMail.com at the Blue Jacket Fashion show in New York City on February 4
Kalen slammed Allison for sharing intimate details of her late husband, including his alleged drug addiction issues, which she found out about right before his funeral
Kalen, who first met Ellen in 2018 after one of his videos went viral, worked alongside Stephen for years, helping create entertaining segments for the daytime show.
The late dancer, for his part, was known for being the show’s DJ from 2014 until the final episode in May 2022.
Kalen continued, ‘I just don’t personally feel that it is the world’s business or a conversation that needs to be had in the public eye, you know what I mean, especially when he isn’t here to defend himself or to tell his own story.’
When asked if she shouldn’t have released the book entirely or just not included so many details, the YouTuber told DailyMail.com, ‘I mean she can do whatever she wants to do, you know, she’s a grown woman. And she is the wife.
‘She is dealing with the aftermath of what is happening and how she processes that grief is up to her. I am not in a place to judge that because I don’t know what that’s like. I don’t know what that position is like.
‘And so all I can do is is look at what decision has been made and say, “Hey, if that’s how you want to do it, then do what you got to do for you.”‘
While making the rounds on her press tour to promote her book, Allison made a shocking confession about having sex with Stephen during a Glee concert as well as addressed ‘rumors’ of the late star’s friendship with Ellen DeGeneres, 67.
In the wake of his tragic death, Boss’ fans began to speculate that his relationship with DeGeneres had soured in the months following the end of her show in light of her ‘toxic workplace’ scandal.
Kalen told DailyMail.com, ‘I just don’t personally feel that it is the world’s business or a conversation that needs to be had in the public eye,’ in regards to Allison’s tell-all memoir
Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss died in December 2022 by suicide – months after The Ellen DeGeneres Show ended in May 2022. Kalen Allen joined the show in 2018 after one of his videos went viral
Allison insisted to People magazine on Tuesday that the rumors were ‘not true’ and that Boss and DeGeneres’ ‘special’ bond was unwavering.
‘I don’t love when I see rumors flying around, and it was really disappointing for me to see that people tried bringing Ellen to the situation and targeting her. It was not true,’ the Dancing With the Stars alum said.
‘Ellen’s wonderful, and she’s just been a support system. If anything, she was a great example to Stephen.
‘They had a great relationship, and he loved that relationship with her. They had something that was so special. I hope people can see that that bond is something that we shouldn’t tear down.’
DeGeneres was among those who attended Boss’ celebration of life in Los Angeles in February 2023, just two months after his untimely death at age 40.
The retired TV personality and her wife Portia de Rossi moved to the UK at the end of 2024 – around 100 miles away in the Cotswolds
village – but still travel back to the US, specifically Montecito, California, where a lot of her famous friends still reside.
Kalen, who is still in touch with Ellen, said he understands why she would move to the UK.
‘I get it. It’s some scary times over here. Things are a little rocky, things are a little shaky and I’m all for people… when you know where you need to go or what you need to do in order to find peace for yourself, by all means go,’ he shared.
Allison recently set the record straight on Stephen’s friendship with Ellen DeGeneres
Allison said, ‘They had a great relationship, and he loved that relationship with her. They had something that was so special’
‘I mean she’s been doing [The Ellen DeGeneres Show] for so long, you know, and she did it at such a magnitude.’
He continued, ‘The show itself – that was 19 seasons, you know what I mean? If she is ready to take a break, beautiful.
‘Job well done. You have done it. You have earned your stripes. You have earned your legacy. There’s no more to do.’
Kalen went on to say that they still text ‘every now and then,’ but it’s usually about what TV shows they’re watching and nothing ‘in depth.’
‘She’s not calling me for [stand up] material,’ he joked.
Kalen joined other stars who walked in the Blue Jacket Fashion Show on February 4, which raised funds for the nonprofit advocacy group ZERO Prostate Cancer.
The annual event was sponsored by Johnson & Johnson and featured Bill Nye, Don Lemon, Mario Cantone, Nigel Barker and many more.
The retired TV personality and her wife Portia de Rossi moved to the UK at the end of 2024
Kalen joined other stars who walked in the Blue Jacket Fashion Show on February 4, which raised funds for the nonprofit advocacy group ZERO Prostate Cancer
‘It’s special because you know when you talk about New York Fashion Week, there’s a lot of designers, there’s a lot of big names around, but it’s always so special when you get to walk a show and you get to do it for a great cause and you get to raise money for important causes,’ Kalen told DailyMail.com.
‘So I’m very grateful to be able to be a part of this.’
After starring in Netflix’s Meet Me Next Christmas alongside Christina Milian, Kalen says that he’s working on a lot of projects for Disney, including The Power of Joy.
‘That is very important to me. It’s about reaching out to different creators that are from underrepresented communities to really give them access to the Disney World and to show other families out there that live in our audiences what it’s like to go to Disney and to experience the magic of Disney,’ he shared.
