Allison Holker's This Far: My Story of Love, Loss, and Embracing the Light The memoir sparked mixed reactions from the dance community and the late husband Stephen “tWitch” Boss' family.
Before the book was published, Holker, 36, spoke to the people In an interview published on Tuesday, January 7, she claimed she knew Boss had done it I fought with addiction, Child sexual abuse and more in her diary, which she read after his death. (Boss died by suicide in December 2022 at the age of 40.)
After the interview, many The president's friends and relatives were frustrated Holker chose to detail his apparent struggles in her memoir and in a magazine interview. For her part, Holker said her goal is to highlight addiction and mental health battles to help others.
“I'm just trying to help people feel safe asking for help and support,” she wrote in an Instagram comment on Tuesday in response to a significant online comment.
Allison Holker is speaking out amid the backlash surrounding her decision to share personal details about her late husband Steven “tWitch” Boss in her upcoming memoir. On Tuesday, January 7, Holker, 36, gave a wide-ranging interview to People magazine about This Far: My Story of Love, Loss, and Embracing the Light, which examined her life and the death of her boss (…)
Holker also reposted several positive fan comments on her Instagram Story. One read: “@allisonholker is a very brave woman. The last two years have been painful for anyone who was a fan of Stephen 'tWitch' Boss. My heart was sad when I heard what happened. It's an example of how perseverance can pay off.
Another fan praised Holker for “opening the way (she did),” adding: “You always take everything with so much grace, strength and positivity. No one does it like you.”
Us Weekly I have reached out to the Holker team for comment.
Holker later shared what she said was her “sole purpose” in writing about Bose in her memoir.
“I want to be clear about that My only intention “Writing the book is sharing my own story as well as part of my life with Stephen,” she wrote via Instagram Story on Wednesday, January 8. “Just like you, I never really knew what happened and even when I try to put the pieces together, I will never know. If you decide to read the book, I hope you will see my intention is to celebrate the love and life I shared with Stephen and our three beautiful children as well as the more complicated aspects of our lives.”
She added: “I hope that by sharing our full story, maybe I can help someone else who may see themselves or a loved one in Steven. In sharing, I hope they can catch some of the red flags I missed before it's too late.”
According to Holker, she has spoken with several advocates since Boss's death to “better educate herself” on mental health issues. She also revealed that all proceeds from her memoir will go to fund “a mental health-focused foundation (she) started in Stephen's honor, Move with Kindness.”
“I hope we don't have to lose another husband, brother, father or friend to suicide,” she concluded. “I think if Stephen was able to choose, he would choose to have his story told if it meant saving one life. Much love to all those who have supported our family over these many years.
Keep scrolling to see how Boss's friends and family — as well as the dance community as a whole — reacted to the memoir's revelation:
Courtney Platt
Platt appeared in the fourth season of So you think you can dance Along with Boss The All-Stars returned for Season 7 alongside Boss and Holker. took to Instagram Platt said Tuesday that she was there for all the major milestones of Holker and Buss' relationship.
“This is by far the most vulgar, classless and opportunistic work I have ever seen in my entire life,” Platt claimed. “We all had to sign a weird NDA to attend his funeral (even his mother who treated him like garbage the whole time and let's just remember you wouldn't have a husband if it wasn't for her)” to share anything or ruin his name as if it was on anyone's mind in the first place, And here you are, writing a book with all the dirty laundry staining his name and trying to dim the bright, loyal, loving light that was your husband, my friend.”
She added: “Whether any of it is true or not is actually beside the point. This is how you protect the 'name of the president' that you quickly listed on your social media platforms 48 hours after his death? His legacy? This is how you protect his children from more Of the humiliation, the hurt, the despair? Is this what you want them to remember about? You got through it, you're living your life, you're on every carpet you can sit on, every celebrity row you can sit in, every magazine you can be in, and you had to get up. So? Get a magazine, or a therapist, or a friend… but you shamelessly share the pages of your husband's magazine? What a joke?
Platt also pleaded: “Let my friend rest in peace and not your PR.”
Rest in peace
Vidoc, last SYTYCD alum who recently served as a mentor Season 18 alongside Holkerreshared Platt's message on her Instagram Stories.
“Lies and fairy tales,” Vidocq wrote. “Stephen said this to me in my dreams when he died: Nothing is as it seems. (Courtney) I'm right behind you. I'm done with this girl. You're an absolutely disgusting, evil woman. How dare you try to ruin my brother's name.”
Chelsea Hightower
The High Tower – A SYTYCD and Dancing with the stars alum — noted in a Tuesday post on her Instagram Story that she had known Holker “since I was in my early teens” and was disappointed by the memoir’s claims.
“Seeing her choose to share such deeply personal details about tWitch’s struggles is disappointing and extremely inappropriate,” she wrote. “Twitch was an incredibly kind and loving man, always taking care of others, making everyone feel included and valued, including me. He deserves to be remembered for the light he brought into this world, not his struggles.”
Hightower also noted that Platt's comments “speak to the heart of this position.”
Allison Holker found closure after the death of her husband, Stephen “tWitch” Boss, by reading his diaries. “He was wrestling with a lot inside himself, and he was trying to self-medicate and deal with all those feelings because he didn't want to put them on anyone because he loved everyone so much,” Holker, 36, told People magazine. On Tuesday, (…)
Dr. Rose
Boss's brother He reposted several critical comments on his Instagram Story.
“There are no lies,” he wrote, linking to Platt’s post.
She is black
“She won’t let our family see the kids,” Boss’s cousin claimed via Twitter. X. “He wasn't an addict. He smoked pot and was actively trying to quit. He wasn't some addict. … All it claims is 'herbs, mushrooms and some pills' but it doesn't specify the pills. The herbs and mushrooms. I know we might have different opinions on this Subject but she frames it as if it were a METH verb or something bffr.
Jenna Dewan
Holker's friend Dewan praised Holker's authenticity in an Instagram Story post, which Holker uploaded to her page.
“Love you @allisonholker,” Dewan wrote. “Sharing this will help others know how to reach out for help.”
Allison Holker, the widow of Stephen “tWitch” Boss, sat down for her first televised interview since his death by suicide. “I still feel like I'm in the rest of the world where I'm still in shock,” the 35-year-old dance professional told Hoda Kotb during an interview on the Wednesday, May 3, episode of the Today show. “No one is ready for (…)”
Daniel Polanco
Professional dancer Polanco who appeared in Escalation Franchise with Boss, tries to hold on to the positive memories of Boss.
“We miss our boy,” she wrote via Twitter. Instagram comment. “Everyone who knew him, let's keep his amazing memory alive by talking about how great he actually was. I just remember that every time he was in New York City, he would want to know where to go to concerts and hip-hop parties. He was a real person.”
“Always ready to learn more,” she added. I wasn't very close to him but I miss his smile, talent and overall presence. What a beautiful man ❤️“.
Connie Boss Alexander
His boss's mother I addressed the criticism In a statement on social media on Thursday, January 9.
“Our family is deeply appalled by the misleading and hurtful allegations made about my son Stephen Boss. “The recent posts spreading lies about Stephen have crossed all lines of decency,” Boss Alexander wrote via Instagram. He added: “As his mother, I will not let these accusations go unanswered. We will not stand idly by while his name and legacy are tarnished. “He doesn’t deserve this, and the kids don’t deserve this.”
She added: “For the past two years, I have stayed quiet and out of the public eye to protect my family. My main focus was healing and trying to stay in touch with my grandchildren. But when I read these horrific allegations about my child, our beloved Stephen, I knew I couldn't stay silent any longer. “Our family will ensure that his name and memory are protected, and we are committed to defending his honor.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
