Ellen DeGeneres paid a poignant and heartfelt tribute to Tayt Andersen—a young boy born with only half of his heart—after he tragically passed away on Friday. The former talk show host took to Instagram to share a moving video in which she openly expressed her profound sorrow over Tayt’s death and extended her deepest condolences to his mother, Chrissy Becker, affectionately referring to him as a truly extraordinary guest.
Fans will fondly recall Tayt as the little boy who once declared Ellen his "girlfriend," a playful declaration that Ellen reciprocated by calling him her "boyfriend"—a jest that, as she humorously noted, even took her wife, Portia de Rossi, by surprise.
Ellen spoke glowingly of Tayt, emphasizing that he brought an unparalleled sense of joy and laughter to every room he entered, and lamented that he would be sorely missed. The video then transitions into a touching montage of Tayt’s appearances on Ellen’s show, detailing the struggles he faced with his health and highlighting the deep, meaningful bond that developed between himself, his mother, and Ellen.
Watching the compilation is an emotionally wrenching experience, and it is evident that Ellen was deeply moved and overwhelmed with emotion as she spoke about Tayt. In the caption accompanying the video, she wrote with heartfelt sincerity, "I love you Tayt. I love you Chrissy. You touched so many lives."
Earlier this morning, Tayt’s family released a statement on both his and Chrissy’s Instagram accounts, revealing that Tayt was "released from his bodily prison early this morning, at 1:30 a.m. CT, surrounded by the fierce and unwavering love of his family."
The statement further explained that Tayt’s condition took a sudden and concerning turn for the worse last weekend. As a result, his family spent much of Thursday reaching out to loved ones, giving them the opportunity to bid farewell before gathering together to watch his favorite movies and read his beloved books.
Tayt was just 19 years old. Rest in peace.
