Ellen DeGeneres Remembers Young Fan Tayt Andersen

Ellen DeGeneres is mourning the loss of a young fan who once affectionately referred to her as “the only boyfriend.”

Tayt Andersen, a familiar face on DeGeneres’s show, passed away at 19 after valiantly battling cancer. His family shared the heartbreaking news early on Friday, September 26th.

A few hours later, DeGeneres released a heartfelt video tribute, highlighting their special connection. “We had a very special guest on the show several times, and his name is Tayt,” she said. “He surprised my wife because he thought I was his girlfriend and claimed he was my boyfriend. He was such a remarkable person who brought joy and laughter into every space he entered.”

“I really miss him,” she added, as a montage of their memorable moments played.

Tayt’s mother, Chrissy Becker, expressed her love in an emotional Instagram post, saying, “We love you so much. Thank you for being his girlfriend, thank you for giving him so much energy ❤️.”

In the same post, Becker shared the painful news of Tayt’s passing: “Our hearts are shattered as we share news we never wanted to write. Our sweet, strong warrior, Tayt, was released from his physical prison this morning at 1:30am, surrounded by the immense love of his family.”

Becker detailed Tayt’s final days, filled with his favorite movies, stories, and calls from loved ones. “I knew Tayt didn’t have much time left, but I honestly wasn’t ready to say goodbye.”

Tayt’s journey captured hearts from the moment he first appeared on The Ellen Show in 2013 when he was just 10 years old, declaring DeGeneres his girlfriend. “I love you,” he told her during a video call before visiting her a few weeks later. By 2015, he returned to share exciting news: “I have a new heart for myself!”

Born with a congenital heart condition, Andersen underwent 12 surgeries by the age of nine and received a heart transplant during his teenage years. Later, he faced additional health challenges, including a diagnosis of post-transplant lymphoma.