Ellen DeGeneres’s donation to late executive producer’s GoFundMe roasted online

'Why didn’t she just pay the entire 50k?'

Published Nov 04, 2026  •  2 minute read

TV show host Ellen Degeneres appears at "The Ellen Degeneres Show" Season 13 Bi-Coastal Premiere at Rockefeller Center on Sept. 8, 2015 in New York City. Photo by Dave Kotinsky /Getty Images

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Comedian Ellen DeGeneres is facing backlash online after the multimillionaire entertainer publicly donated $5,000 to her former executive producer’s family after he died suddenly at the age of 52.

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After sharing a tearful video of herself mourning the death of Matthew Wright, a longtime producer on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the funnywoman — whose net worth is estimated to be $450 million by Forbes magazine — publicly shelled out $5,000 to a GoFundMe campaign for Wright’s family.

Podcaster and author Dana Parish sparked a wave of criticism after pointing out DeGeneres’ contribution, writing on X: “Ellen DeGeneres’s 52-y/o longtime exec producer, Matt Wright, tragically died on Oct 30, while working in LA. His fam is in NY & started a GFM to help with expenses. Ellen donated $5k.”

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Mixed response online

Others then chimed in, stating that the donation was paltry for the 68-year-old self-made millionaire.

“Big spender. She was crying her eyes out so much why didn’t she just pay the entire 50k,” one person responded.

“He was freaked out because both he and his husband were out of work and they had kids to support. She is heartless,” another wrote.

“Wow, 0.001% of her net worth! How generous!” added another.

However, not everyone had harsh words for DeGeneres.

One X user pointed out that the fundraiser exceeded its $50,000 goal, tweeting, “I dislike Ellen as much as the next person but how much more do you think this family needs? What expenses require more??”

Another person added, “So she donated money they didn’t have before? Sounds good to me.”

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‘He made me laugh’

DeGeneres paid tribute to her executive producer of 16 years in an emotional video posted on her Instagram on Monday.

“God, he was an amazing guy,” she said. “He made me laugh, he would surprise me with things he did all the time.”

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She called him “smart” and “kind” and said that “everyone loved him.”

Wright’s GoFundMe page said he “died suddenly but peacefully in his sleep” on Oct. 30 in Los Angeles. It said his husband, father, sister and niece are in New York, “desperate to be reunited for a proper goodbye.”

The GoFundMe page noted that Wright and his husband Justin were “laid off this summer” and that donations would help his family with the cost of getting his body to New York and for funeral expenses.

As of Wednesday night, over $95,000 had been raised, well in excess of its $50,000 goal.

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