Channing Tatum remembers his friend Stephen 'tWitch' Boss. During an appearance at the Dance Hall of Fame Ceremony on Wednesday, Tatum opened up about his relationship with tWitch and their memories together on the set of "Magic Mike XXL."
Tatum was teary-eyed from the moment he began his speech. “I promised myself I wasn't going to cry,” he said, as reported by PEOPLE.
“I do this because tWitch made me laugh all the time. But to say that it is an honor to sit up here and talk about that man is an understatement to say the least. I sat for a while, and I was like, ‘What am I going to tell them?’ Because lots of people here might've known tWitch much longer or more intimate than I did. I got to work with him, and I got to work with him for a good amount of time.”
“As I was just sitting here watching that video and you just see his face and it all, you really need to see. He just was one of the most brilliant, bright [people]. He just loved so big. He just loves so big and that's why he just shines so much.”
Tatum and tWitch's relationship dates back to some years ago, when the two worked together on the set of "Magic Mike XXL." Tatum revealed that while the two became friends on set, he knew of tWitch's dancing abilities from before that, being a fan of his work and skill.
“My brain just couldn't wrap itself around how this giant, big, beautiful man was moving the way he was. I was a bigger guy, and I couldn't fathom moving like that," said Tatum.
Tatum revealed that he treasured his friendship with tWitch, having a "man crush" on him. “Maybe it was because we're both from Alabama and I just felt some sort of kinship to him. Roll Tide, by the way. I'm sure he yelled it back and is laughing at me right now. It was an honor to know him. It was an honor to call him a friend, and I will see him again," he said.
More details about tWitch and his life
tWitch built a long career in the entertainment world, becoming a popular face in various TV shows and programs, including "So You Think You Can Dance," where he served as judge. He also served as the DJ of "The Ellen DeGeneres show," becoming a co-executive producer on the series.
He died by suicide at the age of 40 in December 2022. He's survived by his wife, Alison Holker Boss, and their kids, Weslie, Maddox, and Zaia.