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The family of Stephen "tWitch" Boss is finally breaking their silence after his tragic passing in December 2022, and there's a lot to unpack. In an exclusive sit-down with "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King, Boss' mother, Connie Boss Alexander, and his younger brother, Dre Rose, opened up about their feelings toward his widow, Allison Holker, and the very public rollout of her new memoir.
And it seems that they're not exactly thrilled about how things have played out as Dre Rose didn't hold back, making it clear that while he understands the importance of sharing one's story, the way the memoir was introduced felt like a gut punch. "I think people deserve the ability to share their story. I get that. But to how it was presented and how it was on the cover of a magazine and there was a public, you know, launch or campaign about it, we shouldn't have to find out about that on in the media. We're a family," he told King.
The conversation also touched on Twitch's personal journals, which Holker referenced in her book. Both Connie and Dre expressed interest in reading them not to get a clearer picture of his final thoughts but to feel closer to him.
"I would love to see all of the journals in its entirety. I think those journals will tell you a lot. I think there's things in those journals that are good and bad, but I also believe there's journals about his personal life, his marital life that are in there," Dre said, adding that he believes there's been some selective sharing of what's inside. "I feel, believe that there's been a cherry-picking of things from the journal to reveal or share. And if we're just gonna be completely honest, talk about it all."
The full interview will air on "CBS Mornings" on Tuesday, February 11 at 7 a.m. on CBS.
The Backlash After Allison Holker's Revelations
Allison Holker spoke out after the backlash surrounding her decision to share personal details about her late husband in her memoir and cover interview with People.
Taking to Instagram, Holker addressed her fans, family, and friends, clarifying her intentions in writing the book. "My only intention in writing the book is to share my own story as well as part of my life with Stephen to help other people," she wrote in her Instagram story. "Just like you, I never really knew what happened, and even as I am trying to put the pieces together, I will never really know."
During her interview with the magazine, Holker revealed what she discovered while preparing for her husband's funeral. "I was with one of my really dear friends, and we were cleaning out the closet and picking out an outfit for him for the funeral," Holker recounted. "It was a really triggering moment for me because there were a lot of things I discovered in our closet that I did not know existed. It was very alarming to me to learn that there was so much happening that I had no clue [about]."
Holker said the discovery had an emotional toll on her. "It was a really scary moment in my life to figure that out, but it also helped me process that he was going through so much and he was hiding so much. There must have been a lot of shame in that," she said. "If you decide to read the book, hopefully you'll see my intention is to celebrate the love and life I shared with Stephen and our three beautiful children and also the more complex aspects of both of our lives," she wrote. "I hope that by sharing our full story, maybe I can help someone else who might see themselves or a loved one in Stephen," Holker continued. "In sharing, I hope that maybe they can catch some of the red flags that I missed before it's too late."
Holker assured that all proceeds from the memoir will go toward her foundation, Move with Kindness, which focuses on mental health. "My hope is that we don't need to lose another husband, brother, father, or friend to suicide," Holker concluded.
tWitch's stepdaughter, Weslie, shares her side of the story
tWitch's stepdaughter and Allison Holker's teenage daughter, Weslie Renae, shared in an Instagram live session on January 10, responding to the criticism her family has faced. She addressed misunderstandings about their grieving process and shared the connection she had with her late stepfather.
Boss, who died in December 2022 at age 40, was a beloved father figure to Weslie. She expressed her frustration with the ongoing hate and misconceptions her family is dealing with, especially as her mother, Holker, releases her memoir, This Far: My Story of Love, Loss, and Embracing the Light.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or considering suicide, support is available. Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 or texting "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741. You are not alone!