Ellen DeGeneres Remembers Fan Tayt Andersen, Who Called Her His ‘Girlfriend,’ After His Death at 19

Tayt Andersen, who captured hearts on The Ellen DeGeneres Show with his humor, resilience, and the sweet way he called Ellen DeGeneres his “girlfriend,” has passed away at the age of 19 after a battle with cancer.

Andersen, who was born with half a heart and underwent 12 surgeries before age 9, received a heart transplant at 10. Complications later led to post-transplant lymphoma, and in 2024, he was diagnosed with bladder cancer that spread aggressively.

On Friday, Sept. 26, his family confirmed his passing in a statement shared on Instagram. “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,” they wrote. “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 message described Andersen’s final days, saying loved ones gathered virtually and in person to say their goodbyes. They watched his favorite movies, read stories, and took his handprint as a keepsake. “We knew Tayt time was limited but we honestly just weren’t ready to lose him,” the family shared.

DeGeneres, 67, responded hours later with an emotional video tribute. “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. I will miss him.”

Andersen’s mother, Chrissy Becker, added a heartfelt note in response to DeGeneres’ tribute: “We love you so much. Thank you for being his girlfriend — you gave him so much strength ❤️.”

According to a GoFundMe page set up on his behalf, Andersen’s cancer spread by mid-2025 to his pelvis, spine, abdomen, chest, and neck. Doctors gave him just a few months to live.

Andersen first appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2013, when the host affectionately called him her “only boyfriend.” The bond between the two continued through multiple appearances over the years, including a memorable 2015 visit where he proudly told DeGeneres, “I got myself a new heart!”