Ellen DeGeneres took to social media to share an emotional message about Matt Wright, a longtime executive producer on her show who died on October 30. In a video shared via Instagram, Ellen teared up as she spoke about how much everyone loved Matt, 52.
“He was funny,” she said. “God, he made me laugh. He would surprise me with things that he did all the time. He was smart. He was kind. He was the part of our show that — I mean, everyone loved him. I loved him.” While a lot of people online found Ellen’s tribute both sweet and heartbreaking, the touching message became more controversial once people found out how much she reportedly donated to a GoFundMe launched for Matt’s family.
The GoFundMe was set up to help cover funeral and memorial costs.
According to the fundraiser’s description, both Matt and his husband, Justin, were “laid off this summer.” Matt worked as an executive producer on The Ellen DeGeneres Show for 16 years from 2006 until 2022, when the show ended.
“The unexpected costs of getting Matt home, a funeral and a memorial are impossible for the family to bear,” the GoFundMe’s description reads. “If Matt has ever made you laugh, said an encouraging word right when you needed it, or ordered one too many appetizers for the enjoyment of the whole table, now is the time to repay the favor. Please donate what you can and share this with anyone who’s been in the orbit of Matt’s huge heart.”
Page Six reported that Ellen allegedly donated $5,000 to this fundraiser.
Some critics feel like this isn’t enough.
The reported amount that Ellen donated has sparked conversations online because a lot of people believe that Ellen has the ability to do more. One critic on Reddit argued that what Ellen donated is “equivalent to the average person donating 50 cents.”
“5k is nothing to her,” someone else agreed. As many people pointed out, Ellen clearly seemed devastated in the video she posted after Matt’s death. But some critics questioned why she hasn’t done more to support his family as they mourn. “Why are rich people like this?” another person wrote. “Would it not be the least you could do for the family of someone you all love so much, and you were rich? I just can’t understand the mindset of these people.”
“She knew him enough to make a moving and emotional speech about him,” a fourth critic added. “She has the money to help. Follow through with your love and admiration and help. I can only hope she is doing that.”
At the same time, many others believe that Ellen is not deserving of this criticism.
She is grieving, after all. And, in spite of the reports that she donated $5,000 to the GoFundMe, it’s not clear whether Ellen has actually done or given more than that. Reacting to the video Ellen shared, one person wrote, “This seems really sincere and like she literally lost a good friend. The comments need to chill out. Not the time or the place.”
Someone else argued that while videos that many celebrities make can feel “performative” at times, Ellen’s seemed “genuinely upset” as she spoke about Matt. “The woman can’t even mourn somebody and open about about how broken she is, without the peanut gallery taking attention from the person she’s trying to honor?” another commenter wrote. The same person called critics out for acting “offended on the families behalf by Ellen’s GoFundMe donation” when they don’t actually know how the family feels about it.
In her video, Ellen also had a message for Matt’s family: “Anyway, to Justin, his husband, and to his family, I’m so sorry, because we lost a good guy.”
READ NEXT: Ellen DeGeneres Says She Misses tWitch ‘Every Single Day’ But Also Has ‘Amazing Memories’
