Pop superstars Justin Timberlake and Jennifer Lopez have led the tributes to Stephen 'tWitch' Boss following his sudden death at the age of 40.
The DJ, who was well known for his appearances on the Ellen Show, died from apparent suicide on Tuesday morning, it was reported.
Following the sad news, Cry Me A River singer Justin, 41, took to social media to reflect on the "heartbreaking" announcement.
The former N*Sync star wrote: "It’s heartbreaking to hear that someone who brought so much joy to a room, was hurting so much behind closed doors.
"I’ve known Twitch for over 20 years through the dance community - he always lit everything up. You just never know what someone is really going through.
"Take care of yourselves. LOVE that human in the mirror. Check on your people. Sending light to his beautiful family in this dark, confusing time. You will be missed, Sir. Rest Easy."
Justin also shared an photo of 'tWitch' and his wife Jessica Biel re-enacting the iconic lift from classic 1987 film Dirty Dancing during her appearance on the Ellen show in 2017.
J-Lo offered her condolences to Stephen's family with a post on social media, which was accompanied with a photo of herself, tWitch, Ne-Yo and Derek Hough on the set of reality dance show World of Dance which she executive produced.
She wrote: "Twitch was such a light and a beautiful soul… Shocked and deeply saddened. My heart breaks for @sir_twitch_alot, his wife and children. Sending you love and strength."
Elsewhere, Jada Pinket Smith posted a lengthy heartfelt tribute to the star too on her Instagram page. Alongside an image of her with tWitch, she said her "heart aches for his wife Allison and their children Weslie, Maddox and Zaia".
She continued: "My condolences to all his loved ones that he has left behind. We had a lot of good times on the set of Magic Mike. He was so sweet, kind and generous. So many people suffer in silence. I wish he could have known that he didn’t have to.
"May his beautiful, shining soul rest in the arms of the Great Supreme and may that same Higher Power heal the shattered hearts of his loved ones."
Presenter Ricki Lake also tweeted: "Beyond. I too, have rewatched this performance dozens of times. Pure joy. #RIPTwitch," while Ellen DeGeneres wrote: "I’m heartbroken. tWitch was pure love and light. He was my family, and I loved him with all my heart.
"I will miss him. Please send your love and support to Allison and his beautiful children - Weslie, Maddox, and Zaia."
Stephen started DJing on Ellen's show in 2014, and remained with the show until it ended earlier this year. Ellen made Stephen an executive producer on the show in 2020.
He initially found success during the fourth season of American dance competition So You Think You Can Dance? in 2008, before becoming a permanent judge on the show in the most recent series earlier this year.
*If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch.
