Ellen DeGeneres Honors Her ‘Very Special’ 19-Year-Old Fan After His Passing: VIDEO

A boy Ellen DeGeneres lovingly called her “only boyfriend” has died at 19. Tayt Andersen, a devoted fan who appeared several times on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”, passed away on Friday, September 26, after a long battle with cancer. Just hours later, DeGeneres, 67, shared a heartfelt video tribute.

(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

“We had a very special guest on the show several times, and his name is Tayt,” she said. “And he thought that I was his girlfriend, and so I told him he was my boyfriend, which shocked my wife. But he was a very special little human being, and just brought joy and life and laughter into every room that he was in.”

She concluded, “I will miss him,” before a montage of their special moments played.

Family Confirms Tayt Andersen’s Death

Andersen’s family announced his death in an emotional post on his Instagram page on September 26, sharing black-and-white photos of him with his mother, Chrissy Becker.

“Our hearts are absolutely shattered as we share the news we never wanted to write: Our sweet, strong warrior, Tayt, was released from his bodily prison early this morning, at 1:30 a.m. CT, surrounded by the fierce love of his family,” the statement read. “While our souls feel shattered and lost by this unimaginable grief, we are so thankful that Tayt is finally free. No more pain, no more appointments, no more treatments.”

The family also reflected on their final days with Tayt, filled with love and small keepsakes that would last a lifetime. They called relatives to say their goodbyes, watched his favorite movies, read his favorite stories, and made handprints as a way to hold on to him. “We knew Tayt time was limited but we honestly just weren’t ready to lose him,” the message continued.

A Life of Strength Through Illness

Born with half a heart, Andersen endured 12 surgeries by the age of 9 and received a heart transplant at 10. In his teens, he was diagnosed with post-transplant lymphoma. At 18, he faced bladder cancer, which later spread to his pelvis, spine, abdomen, chest, and neck.

By June 2025, doctors gave him three to four months to live. Despite the prognosis, Andersen continued to fight and spend time with family, inspiring countless people who followed his journey online.

Tayt’s Special Bond With Ellen

Andersen first appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in January 2013. During their conversation, he told DeGeneres she was his “girlfriend,” prompting her to call him her “only boyfriend.”

“I love you,” Andersen told her during a video call. Later that month, he joined her in person, beginning a bond that spanned years. One memorable moment occurred in 2015, when he proudly told DeGeneres, “I got myself a new heart!” after undergoing a transplant.

Andersen’s mom, Chrissy, thanked DeGeneres after her tribute video. “We love you so much,” she wrote. “Thank you for being his girlfriend. You gave him so much strength ❤️.”

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