Three years after the tragic passing of Stephen "tWitch" Boss, a new family conflict has emerged into public view. While his widow Allison Holker recently shared news of her engagement to Adam Edmunds, tWitch's mother Connie Boss Alexander has taken legal action to secure visitation rights with her grandchildren. The contrasting developments highlight unresolved tensions within the family following the entertainer's 2022 death.
Stephen Boss captivated audiences as the dynamic DJ and co-host on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where his infectious energy and remarkable dance talent made him a household name. His unexpected death at age 40 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a Los Angeles motel room devastated fans, colleagues, and most profoundly, his family. The loss left his wife Allison Holker widowed with three young children and created ripple effects that continue to shape family relationships.
Allison Holker, an accomplished dancer who first connected with tWitch on So You Think You Can Dance, has worked to rebuild her life while raising their children: nine-year-old Maddox, six-year-old Zaia, and seventeen-year-old Weslie, whom tWitch had formally adopted. Her recent engagement announcement in February 2025 marked a significant milestone in her personal healing journey. However, this forward movement appears to have intensified existing fractures with her late husband's relatives.
The publication of Holker's memoir, "This Far: My Story of Love, Loss and Embracing the Light," just two months after tWitch's death became a major point of contention. Family members claim they were "blindsided" by certain portrayals and assertions within the book. Perhaps more significantly, they allege they were required to sign non-disclosure agreements before attending tWitch's funeral—a demand that reportedly created immediate distrust and set the stage for ongoing conflict.
In September 2025, Connie Boss Alexander formally filed a Petition for Grandparent Visitation in court, documents exclusively obtained by the Daily Mail reveal. The legal filing presents a detailed account of a grandmother's growing fear that her relationship with her grandchildren faces "permanent disruption." Connie characterizes Holker's actions as a "unilateral and retaliatory decision" to sever the children's connection with their paternal relatives.
The petition includes direct statements from Connie: "Unfortunately, shortly following my son's passing, [Allison] refused to allow me or any other members of our family to communicate with or see the Minor Children." She carefully frames her request as seeking limited visitation that respects Holker's parental autonomy while serving the children's best interests. Her motivation stems from a firm belief that maintaining bonds with their father's family remains crucial, especially since tWitch can no longer facilitate those relationships himself.
Connie, 62, emphasizes that her son served as the "primary point of contact" linking her to the grandchildren—a logistical reality complicated by her Arizona residence while the children lived in California. Before his death, she enjoyed rich, frequent communication with the kids through multiple channels. "We connected through phone calls, FaceTime, text messages, and social media messaging multiple times per week," she states. The abrupt cessation of this contact following tWitch's passing created a painful void.
The grandmother describes her determined efforts during the first year after her son's death: "I did my best during that first year to stay in touch and maintain some consistency, especially for the sake of the Children. But it became difficult as Respondent (Allison) began distancing herself." Despite these attempts, she alleges that Holker progressively limited access, eventually resulting in complete cutoff.
The NDA requirement before the funeral adds a complex dimension to the dispute. If substantiated, such a demand would be highly unusual and could indicate concerns about controlling the narrative surrounding tWitch's death. Family members may have perceived this as a lack of trust, potentially poisoning future interactions. This allegation, combined with the memoir's content, suggests a pattern of information control that the Boss family found troubling.
Under California family law, grandparents can petition for visitation rights under specific circumstances, particularly when a parent has died. Courts must balance the constitutional rights of parents to make decisions about their children against the potential benefits of grandparent contact. Key factors include the pre-existing relationship's strength and whether visitation would serve the children's best interests while not interfering with parental authority.
Child development experts note that maintaining connections with extended family after a parent's death can provide continuity and emotional support for grieving children. However, they also emphasize that parental discretion typically receives significant weight, especially when the surviving parent is functioning appropriately. The court may need to evaluate whether the alleged estrangement harms the children or reflects reasonable parental judgment.
The public nature of this dispute, amplified by Holker's celebrity status and recent engagement news, creates additional pressures. High-profile families often face intense scrutiny during personal crises, which can complicate private negotiations. The timing of the lawsuit—coinciding with Holker's engagement—may reflect Connie's sense of urgency as family dynamics shift further.
Potential resolutions could include court-ordered mediation, where both parties might work with a neutral third party to establish a visitation schedule. Such arrangements often prove less adversarial than litigation and can preserve relationships. Alternatively, the court might appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the children's interests independently.
The case raises broader questions about grandparent rights in blended families and how the legal system navigates competing claims of love and loyalty after tragedy. As families become more complex, courts increasingly encounter disputes that test the boundaries between parental autonomy and extended family involvement.
For Connie, the legal battle represents more than access—it's about preserving her son's legacy and maintaining her identity as a grandmother. For Holker, it likely involves protecting her children's privacy and her authority as a widowed parent building a new future. The children remain at the center, their wellbeing the legal standard by which all decisions will be measured.
As proceedings move forward, both sides will present evidence regarding the nature and quality of pre-existing relationships. Mental health professionals may assess the children's needs and preferences, particularly seventeen-year-old Weslie, whose voice might carry special weight given her age and the fact that tWitch adopted her. The court's ultimate decision will hinge on whether continued contact with paternal relatives demonstrably benefits the children without undermining Holker's parental role.
This unfolding drama serves as a poignant reminder that grief manifests differently across family systems and that healing doesn't always proceed along parallel paths. While Allison Holker embraces new beginnings, Connie Boss Alexander fights to hold onto precious connections from the past. The resolution will require careful judicial balancing of love, loss, and the best interests of three children who have already endured profound tragedy.