Jennifer Hudson shared that Matthew Wright, a former producer for "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," visited the set of her talk show, "The Jennifer Hudson Show," on Thursday, the day before his death.
"So saddened by the loss of Matt Wright, one of our former producers who helped launch @jenniferhudsonshow," Hudson, 45, wrote on Instagram on Monday. "He was just back to visit on Thursday for our Halloween show!" She added that Wright "made such a huge impact on so many people in this industry and beyond!"
Hudson concluded her post by saying her "heart goes out to his family and loved ones. Rest in peace, Matt!"
Wright passed away on Friday at age 52 due to "an unfathomable tragedy" while working remotely in Los Angeles, his family announced on a GoFundMe page. The cause of death has not yet been publicly revealed.
His family has created a GoFundMe to raise funds for the "unexpected costs of getting Matt home, a funeral and a memorial," stating that they are "impossible for the family to bear." The page also noted that both Wright and his husband, Justin, had been laid off over the summer.
Ellen DeGeneres donated $5,000 to the GoFundMe. She shared a tearful tribute to Wright on Instagram, reflecting on his impact during his 16 years working on her talk show. "He was smart, he was kind ... I mean, everyone loved him," DeGeneres said. "I loved him. And it's just shocking, it's shocking."
