Ellen DeGeneres has shared some heartbreaking news.<\/p>\n
The former talk show host took to Instagram to remember former guest Tayt Andersen, whose family announced passed away from cancer<\/a> on Friday morning at the age of 19.<\/p>\n Andersen appeared on \u201cThe Ellen DeGeneres Show\u201d several times while living with a congenital heart condition, and DeGeneres dubbed him her \u201conly boyfriend\u201d after he once called her his \u201cgirlfriend\u201d on the program.<\/p>\n Ellen DeGeneres took to Instagram to remember former guest Tayt Andersen on Sept. 26, 2025. Ellen DeGeneres\/Instagram<\/p>\n Tayt Andersen with Ellen DeGeneres during an episode of \u201cThe Ellen DeGeneres Show.\u201d Ellen<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a very special guest on the show several times, and his name is Tayt,\u201d DeGeneres, 67, began while fighting back tears<\/a> in a heartbreaking video. \u201cAnd he thought that I was his girlfriend, and so I told him he was my boyfriend, which shocked my wife.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut he was a very special little human being, and just brought joy and life and laughter into every room that he was in,\u201d she continued. \u201cI will miss him.\u201d<\/p>\n DeGeneres also remembered Andersen in the caption of her emotional clip.<\/p>\n Ellen DeGeneres dubbed Tayt Andersen her \u201conly boyfriend.\u201d Ellen DeGeneres\/Instagram<\/p>\n The former talk show host remembered Tayt Andersen as a \u201cvery special little human being.\u201d Ellen DeGeneres\/Instagram<\/p>\n \u201cI love you Tayt. I love you Chrissy,\u201d she wrote, referring to Chrissy Becker, Andersen\u2019s mom. \u201cYou touched so many lives.\u201d<\/p>\n Chrissy, meanwhile, took to the comments section of the comedian\u2019s post to thank DeGeneres for the thoughtful words.<\/p>\n \u201cWe love you so much,\u201d she wrote alongside a heart emoji. \u201cThank you for being his girlfriend you gave him so much strength.\u201d<\/p>\n Tayt Andersen and his mom with Ellen DeGeneres during a visit to \u201cThe Ellen DeGeneres Show.\u201d Ellen<\/p>\n Tayt Andersen and his mom during another appearance on \u201cThe Ellen DeGeneres Show.\u201d Ellen<\/p>\n Ellen DeGeneres gave Tayt Andersen and his mom a check for $20,000 during an episode of \u201cThe Ellen DeGeneres Show\u201d in Nov. 2015. Ellen<\/p>\n Andersen\u2019s family\u00a0announced the devastating news<\/a> of his death on his personal Instagram page early Friday, Sept. 26. <\/p>\n \u201cOur 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,\u201d they began alongside several black-and-white photos of Andersen and his mom.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile our souls feel shattered and lost by this unimaginable grief, we are so thankful that Tayt is finally free,\u201d his loved ones continued. \u201cNo more pain, no more appointments, no more treatments.\u201d<\/p>\n Tayt Andersen on \u201cThe Ellen DeGeneres Show.\u201d Ellen<\/p>\n Tayt Andersen sitting on Ellen DeGeneres\u2019 lap during a visit to her show. Ellen<\/p>\n \u201cTayt was loved by so many, and he impacted countless lives with his incredible smile, his quiet strength, his kindness, and his beautiful love,\u201d they added.<\/p>\n Andersen\u2019s condition \u201ctook a turn for the worse\u201d last weekend following an infection, according to his family. He \u201cfought one last battle\u201d before he \u201cdrifted off to sleep\u201d on Monday and sadly \u201cpassed away peacefully\u201d early Friday morning.<\/p>\n \u201cYesterday, we spent the day calling and FaceTiming family so they could say their goodbyes,\u201d they shared. \u201cWe made sure to get his handprint\u2014a small way to hold on to him\u2014 we watched his favorite movies, read his favorite stories.\u201d<\/p>\n Tayt Andersen during another appearance on \u201cThe Ellen DeGeneres Show.\u201d Ellen<\/p>\n Tayt Andersen at the premiere of \u201cFinding Dory\u201d in Hollywood, California, on June 8, 2016. Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cWe knew Tayt\u2019s time was limited but we honestly just weren\u2019t ready to lose him,\u201d his family added. \u201cPlease keep Chrissy, Tayt, and our family in your thoughts and prayers as we navigate this crushing grief.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere are truly no words to describe this pain; we are just moving through this painful process, grateful for every moment we had with our amazing boy,\u201d Andersen\u2019s loved ones concluded. \u201cPlease give us grace during this time.\u201d<\/p>\n Andersen had been born with only half of a heart, and he went through more than 10 surgeries by the age of 9, according to a\u00a0GoFundMe page<\/a> set up on his behalf before his passing.<\/p>\n Ellen DeGeneres visiting Tayt Andersen amid his cancer battle. Tayt Andersen\/Instagram<\/p>\n Ellen DeGeneres visiting with Tayt Andersen amid his cancer battle. Tayt Andersen\/Instagram<\/p>\n Although he received a heart transplant at 10 years old, Andersen was then diagnosed with post-transplant lymphoma a few years later.<\/p>\n Then, in 2024, when he was 18, the former \u201cEllen DeGeneres Show\u201d guest was diagnosed with bladder cancer. It spread to his pelvis, spine, abdomen, chest and neck in June 2025, at which point he was given only three to four months to live.<\/p>\n Andersen made his first \u201cThe Ellen DeGeneres Show\u201d appearance\u00a0in Jan. 2013, which was when the comedian declared he was her \u201conly boyfriend\u201d upon learning that he viewed her as his \u201cgirlfriend.\u201d<\/p>\n Tayt Andersen shortly before his heartbreaking passing. Tayt Andersen\/Instagram<\/p>\n \u201cI love you,\u201d he told DeGeneres during a video call at the time.<\/p>\n Later that month, Andersen joined the comedian for his first episode in person, and he went on to return to the show several times before it came to an end in May 2022<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI got myself a new heart!\u201d Andersen declared during one particularly memorable visit in 2015.<\/p>\n The Post has reached out to DeGeneres\u2019 reps for comment.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t