Stephen “tWitch” Boss took his own life, and it left many questioning what private demons the lovable public figure was battling. Wonder no more — because his widowed wife, Allison Holker, has exposed deep, dark secrets she claims to have discovered after her husband’s passing via his personal journal.
The backlash was rightfully swift and harsh. Stephen’s mother, for example, dismissed the revelations as “untruths” and asserted that Holker’s upcoming book has tarnished her son’s name and legacy. Courtney Platt, a dancer who starred on SYTYCD alongside Stephen and Allison, blasted the book, calling it the “most tacky, classless, opportunistic act [she has] ever seen in [her] entire life.” It doesn’t stop there. Andy Lassner, an executive producer on The Ellen DeGeneres Show during Stephen’s time on the show, questioned the veracity of Holker’s claims about Stephen. As an addict himself, Lassner said, “Every day his energy wasn’t the chaos of addiction — it was the calm that so many of us fight for.” He went on to call Stephen an “absolute king” who “deserves to be remembered that way.”
Though social media is unifying against Holker, a small few have pointed out the possibility that this book is in fact for a greater good, and it could save lives if other wives miss the same signs of their husband’s distress as she did. It’s a cute PR narrative that might have worked when society was far less jaded by intentional money grabs, but we’ve seen the wizard — and Holker is not getting her wish granted.
As a writer, I have many personal journals. When I leave them behind, I hope whoever finds them burns them. They are for me and me alone. If I wanted my friends, family, or significant others to read them, I’d have written them a letter. Shame on Holker for not understanding or respecting that.
When I think about Holker’s intentions, I am reminded that she spent the entirety of her relationship with Stephen choreographing ridiculous dances for Instagram clicks. She did interview after interview by his side, screaming about their love from the rooftops. Now that Stephen is no longer with us, she has found one last way to trade on his name for fame, and it’s appalling. Protecting his name and respecting his family’s wishes should be the first, not the last, consideration. His death alone is enough to inspire people to get help if they are struggling. No one needed this book. It’s a cash grab. Anyone arguing otherwise is part of a dishonest PR machine.
Luckily, Stephen tWitch Boss built an untouchable legacy that no one can tear down. And if any lesson comes out of this it’s to think how to respect your loved ones after they pass. How to carry on their legacy for generations to come. So much of who we are today is built on the backs for those who came before us. Those everlasting imprints should be respected and nurtured. Lastly, while you might think something is your story to tell, remember it’s never just your story.