Allison Holker Addresses Book Criticism, Says She Believes Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss ‘Would Choose’ to Share His Story to Help Others

Allison Holker is speaking out about the release of her upcoming memoir, This Far.

On Wednesday the So You Think You Can Dance judge, 36, shared a statement on her Instagram story after facing criticism from her late husband Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss’ loved ones and social media ahead of the book’s release on Feb. 4.

“To fans of Stephen and our family and friends, I want to be clear that my only intention in writing the book is to share my own story as well as part of my life with Stephen to help other people,” she said. “Just like you, I never really knew what happened, and even as I am trying to put the pieces together I will never really know.”

Holker — who’s mom to children Zaia, 5, Maddox, 8, and Weslie, 16 — underscored that she wrote the book, which details her difficult upbringing, her love story with Boss and his struggles ahead of his death, in hopes of shedding light on mental health issues following Boss’ death by suicide in December 2022. 

“If you decide to read the book, hopefully you’ll see my intention is to celebrate the love and life I shared with Stephen and our three beautiful children, and also the more complex aspects of both of our lives,” she shared. “I hope that by sharing our full story maybe I can help someone else who might see themselves or a loved one in Stephen. In sharing I hope maybe they catch some [of] the red flags that I missed before it’s too late.”

Holker noted that over the last two years since his death, she has “spoken in detail” with National Alliance of Mental Health, Solomon Family Solutions and The Defensive Line to “better educate myself on mental health issues so that I can share warning signs with others.”

The former Dancing with the Stars pro shared that she planned to donate all the proceeds from the book “to fund the mental health focused foundation I started in Stephen’s honor, Move with Kindness.”

“My hope is that we don’t need to lose another husband, brother, father or friend to suicide,” she concluded. “I believe that if Stephen were able to choose, he would choose to have his story told if it meant saving even one life. Much love to all those who supported our family these many years.”

In this week’s PEOPLE cover story, Holker opened up about the painful demons she discovered Boss endured before his tragic death.

“It’s important for me to share the truth to make things easier for someone else,” she told PEOPLE. “I want someone that maybe is struggling with their own mental health and having questions of if they want to take themselves to the other side — don’t do it because you’re going to affect way more people than you ever knew. If you just ask for help, someone could help you find the light again.”

Holker said she and her kids began intense therapy in 2023 and that she recently came to the realization that “it’s okay to not be okay.”

For more on Allison Holker and her new memoir, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, or subscribe here.

“When Stephen started being at his lowest, he would try to open up a little bit about things, [but] he was very careful about his wording,” Holker said. “I wish he would’ve felt comfortable asking for help, wanted to go to therapy and talk to his friends or loved ones.”

“I don’t want to fall into the same triggers Stephen did. For the last two years, I felt like I wanted to get my family through everything, and I realized I haven’t taken a moment to also heal myself,” she added. “I’m trying to allow [help] now in my life. Let a therapist help me, let my daughter help me, let my friends help me. I’m struggling a little bit with it still, but I’m putting my best step forward.”