What was 'Ellen Show' producer Matthew Wright's cause of death?
What's the story
Matthew Wright, 52, a longtime producer on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, died due to cardiopulmonary arrest. It is a condition in which effective blood circulation and breathing suddenly cease, leaving organs starved of oxygen. The news was confirmed through a death certificate obtained by People. The document also revealed that hypertension was an underlying cause of his death, with obstructive sleep apnea and Class II obesity contributing factors.
Tributes paid
Ellen DeGeneres and Andy Lassner mourned his death on Instagram
Ellen DeGeneres, who worked with Wright for 16 years, paid tribute to him on Instagram.
She shared, "God, he was an amazing guy. 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. And it's just shocking."
Andy Lassner, another colleague from the talk show, also shared his grief on Instagram, saying, "We should have had so much more time with him."
Circumstances surrounding death
GoFundMe page was set up for family
A GoFundMe page set up to support Wright's family revealed, "In an unfathomable tragedy, Matt Wright passed away Oct 30th while working remotely in Los Angeles."
"His husband (Justin), father, sister, and niece are in New York, desperate to be reunited for a proper goodbye."
The unexpected costs of getting Wright home for a funeral and memorial were reportedly too much for the family to bear.
Fundraiser controversy
Controversy over the amount donated by DeGeneres
DeGeneres donated $5,000 to the fundraiser, but it led to a debate online.
Social media users pointed out that the comedian could have easily covered the entire $50,000 goal with her donation.
The fundraiser goal has since been surpassed and reportedly stands at over $98,000 as of Saturday.
Career highlights
Wright's long-standing association with 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show'
Wright started working on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2006 and continued until its conclusion in 2022.
He was a frequent presence on the talk show, often participating in funny segments.
In her Instagram post, DeGeneres shared some of his memorable moments on the show, including a recurring segment called "Strong Opinions with Matt."