Ellen DeGeneres is facing backlash on social media for her $5,000 donation to a GoFundMe campaign established for the family of Matthew Wright, a former executive producer of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." Wright died unexpectedly on October 30 at the age of 52 from what the fundraiser describes as an "unfathomable tragedy" in Los Angeles.

DeGeneres, who has an estimated net worth of $500 million according to Celebrity Net Worth, was among the top contributors to the crowdfunding effort. However, many online commentators deemed her donation insufficient given her wealth. "Big spender. She was crying her eyes out so much why didn’t she just pay the entire 50k," one user wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Another commenter stated, "He was freaked out because both he and his husband were out of work and they had kids to support. She is heartless." A different user called DeGeneres a "cheapskate."

DeGeneres had previously posted a tearful video paying tribute to Wright, calling him "an amazing guy" and "the glue to our entire family at the Ellen Show." She recalled their shared experiences and expressed her shock at his passing. "I loved him and it's just shocking," she said in the video. "We're gonna miss him."

Wright worked on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" for 16 years, ending his tenure when the program concluded in 2022. He reportedly worked on a project with DeGeneres that was set to begin soon. Fellow executive producer Andy Lassner shared on Instagram that he had seen Wright just hours before his death, describing him as a "brilliant producer and an even better human being."

The GoFundMe page states that Wright and his husband, Justin, were both laid off over the summer, and the unexpected costs of Wright's return to New York for a funeral and memorial are a significant burden for the family. The fundraiser aims to help reunite Wright's husband, father, sister, and niece for a proper goodbye.

Conversely, some users defended DeGeneres, questioning the necessity of a GoFundMe for a high-profile show's former executive producer. "Executive producer for Ellen Degensres show needs financial help??? How can that be?" one X user posted. Others argued that the nature of the friendship and their current relationship status were unknown, making it difficult to judge DeGeneres's contribution.