LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The ‘Step Up’ actress Jenna Dewan is stepping up to praise Stephen “tWitch” Boss’s widow Allison Holker on the resilience and strength that she has shown towards her family in the wake of her husband’s death by suicide in 2022. As the mother of two attended the 2023 Mental Health Gala in West Hollywood, Dewan came in support of the bereaving Holker by saying, “I love Allison and I love her family.”
The 42-year-old star said in the interview with Page Six, “Life is going to be hard and there’s going to be really challenging [times]. We’re all going to go through tragedy, we’re all going to go through these moments of darkness,” before adding, “Going through all of that while also being a mother really hits home to me and I am very protective of her and her family.”
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'He was low': Allison Holker Boss breaks her silence on husband tWitch's death
‘The Resident’ actress, who shares a very close bond with the Boss family, continues to say she wants the family to know how “loved” they are, “I want them to feel how loved and supported they are. Not just by me and people who know them, but this entire world who was touched by ‘tWitch’ and is touched by Allison and her family.”
Dewan who was a co-star of Stephen Boss in the ‘Step Up’ franchise further continued to reminisce about him in the speech saying, “I loved ‘tWitch’ so much and I’ve been inspired by him my entire life. We’ve had a real shared kinship in this business and this walk of life.” she added, recalling the times when her ex-husband Channing Tatum was filming for ‘Magic Mike XXL’ alongside Boss, “We had some funny moments. I remember when he was filming ‘Magic Mike’ and that dance at the end is very hilarious and racy, but it was filmed within a huge audience. We had a few hilarious moments in between takes where he and I would just bust out laughing. Like, the things that dancers do … the audacity of things we’ve done! It’s just a way of life and he was so funny, open-hearted and game to do it all.”
Dewan, who attended the mental health gala to honor Boss during Mental Health Awareness Month and converse on the stigma of mental health awareness,, said, “[We’re here] to erase the stigma and understand that you can struggle while also being strong,” before adding, “So we’re doing what we can to share that and shed light on that subject.”
Dewan, along with Derek Hough presented Holker the National Alliance of Mental Illness Westside Los Angeles’ “Heart of a Champion Award” on Friday. Allison Holker attended the gala with her daughter Weslie, 14.
‘Thank you . . . for making us feel so safe’
Holker, on her part, thanked Hough and Dewan for coming out to support her in her struggle, “Thank you, Derek and Jenna, for coming out and helping to present this award to our family and our beloved Stephen.” She further continued, “Thank you to NAMI West LA for this incredible honor and we promise to continue to move from love and joy forever and always, and to continue to inspire and lead and teach and to grow.”
“I want to say a special thank you to my friends for just being the most incredible people and supporting us during this special time. And to all of you for opening your arms and welcoming us here and making us feel so safe. And Weslie, I’m so proud of you, and I love you. Thank you,” added the ‘High School Musical’ alum.
Jenna Dewan's relationship with the Boss family
Jenna Dewan’s relationship with the Boss family goes a long way as both she and Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss were part of the ‘Step Up’ franchise. Moreover, her former husband, Channing Tatum and ‘tWitch’ shared the screen in ‘Magic Mike XXL.' Upon his death in December 2022, Dewan took to her Instagram to pen a eulogy for the deceased dancer. She wrote at that time, “I am truly at a loss for words today… Twitch was the kindest, warmest, sweetest soul I had met in this business. He lifted everyone up around him. He made a point to check in on me and my family because that was who he was- a truly good soul who cared deeply about others. He was a source of inspiration to not only the dance community but the world at large.”
“He was beloved by literally everyone. My whole heart is with you. Allison and your beautiful family. Rest In Peace Twitch 🙏🏻💔,” Dewan wrote concluding the post.
'I wouldn’t wish it for anybody'
Holker, who is a mother of three, shared three children with ‘tWitch’. Apart from Weslie, 14, they have a son Maddox, 7, and a daughter Zaia, 3. Earlier, during a TV interview with the ‘Today’ host Hoda Kotb on May 3, she said, “It’s honestly something I wouldn’t wish for anybody. It’s really hard,” before breaking down into tears, “But if I’ve learned anything, it’s that communication is key.” “There’s been some really hard conversations,” added the grieving wife.
She also detailed how her children are behaving after ‘tWitch’s’ death, “To us, Daddy’s in the stars,” and added, “So we can go outside and talk to him whenever we want. … They just ask, ‘When is Daddy coming back?’ and that’s a really hard one.” Holker continued, “It’ll be a couple weeks later, ‘But does he come back when he’s older? Like, when Daddy’s older, he’ll come back?’” before remarking, “But they are still children and still obviously want him here.”