Ellen DeGeneres is facing questions about her generosity after donating $5,000 to the grieving family of a longtime producer, with some social media users arguing that the multimillionaire could have given considerably more.
TMZ reported on Tuesday, November 3, that the donation appeared under Ellen’s name on a GoFundMe supporting the family of Matthew Wright, a former executive producer of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” who died Friday, October 30.
While friends and colleagues have rallied to help his family, the amount listed under her name has prompted a wave of critical comments online.
Ellen DeGeneres Faces Backlash Over $5,000 Donation
Ellen, 68, contributed $5,000 to the fundraiser established to help Wright’s family cover funeral and related expenses, according to TMZ.
However, several users on X questioned the amount, pointing to the comedian’s reported wealth.
“Wow. That’s great. She donated .00001% of her worth. 😀” one person wrote.
Another compared the donation to finding spare change, writing, “That’s like one us finding a nickel in the couch and donating it”
A third commented, “10-15k would have been a respectful donation not 5. Come on Ellen. 😨”
Another user added, “I hate to be that person, but $5k is not a lot of money to give back to the person who helped you become a millionaire….”
Other commenters were equally critical of the former daytime television host.
One wrote, “Typical Hollywood selfish move. Ellen DeGeneres sets up GoFundMe page to pay funeral expenses for her former show producer she loved. She’s worth over $450 million. PAY THE COSTS HERSELF.”
However, the claim that Ellen personally established the fundraiser has not been substantiated. The campaign was created to support Wright’s family.
Another person wrote, “She cares much about the people that worked on her show that made her a millionaire, she give some money she find in pair of jeans, she was about to put in the washing machine 👏”
One more commented, “She’s worth millions and she basically gave his family $10”
The comments reflect individual reactions online rather than any publicly expressed criticism from Wright’s family.
Why Matthew Wright’s Family Started a GoFundMe
Matthew, 52, died while working remotely in Los Angeles, according to the fundraiser.
His husband, Justin, and other family members were in New York at the time. The fundraiser explained that Matthew and Justin had both been laid off over the summer, leaving the family struggling with unexpected expenses.
The money will help cover the costs of transporting Matthew home to New York, funeral arrangements and a memorial in Los Angeles.
His family described his death as an “unfathomable tragedy.” A cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
Any remaining funds will go into a trust for his niece, Sami.
Ellen DeGeneres Pays Emotional Tribute to Late Producer
The backlash followed an emotional tribute Ellen shared on Instagram on Monday, November 2.
The comedian remembered Matthew as a funny, smart, and kind colleague who was loved by everyone on the show.
She also revealed they had been discussing a new project together before his sudden death.
Matthew worked on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” for 16 years, remaining with the program until its conclusion in 2022, according to Entertainment Weekly.
According to TMZ, Allison Holker Boss, the widow of the show’s former DJ Stephen “tWitch” Boss, was also listed as donating $500.
Former “Ellen” executive producer Andy Lassner and “Dancing with the Stars” executive producer Conrad Green were each listed as contributing $1,000.
Several former colleagues have also shared tributes remembering Matthew’s kindness, humor, and lasting impact on the television industry.
Ellen DeGeneres Pays Emotional Tribute to Late Producer
The backlash followed an emotional tribute Ellen shared on Instagram on Monday, November 2. The comedian remembered Matthew as a funny, smart and kind colleague who was loved by everyone on the show.
She also revealed they had been discussing a new project together before his sudden death.
Matthew worked on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” for 16 years, remaining with the program until its conclusion in 2022.
According to TMZ, Allison Holker Boss, the widow of the show’s former DJ Stephen “tWitch” Boss, was also listed as donating $500.
Former “Ellen” executive producer Andy Lassner and “Dancing with the Stars” executive producer Conrad Green were each listed as contributing $1,000.
Several former colleagues have also shared tributes remembering Matthew’s kindness, humor, and lasting impact on the television industry.
Ellen DeGeneres Blasted Over $5K Donation to Late Producer’s Family: ‘She’s Worth Millions’