‘Glee’ Cast Reunites to Honor Naya Rivera at GLAAD Media Awards (Video)
“The character Naya played, Santana Lopez, was groundbreaking for closeted queer girls,” Demi Lovato saysMadeline Roth | April 8, 2021 @ 6:30 PM Last Updated: April 8, 2021 @ 6:31 PM
The cast of “Glee” reunited Thursday night, as part of the virtual GLAAD Media Awards, for a special tribute to late co-star Naya Rivera.
The tribute was kicked off by Demi Lovato, who had a recurring role on Season 5 of the Fox musical sitcom as Dani, who briefly dated Rivera’s Santana Lopez.
“I will always cherish the chance I got to play Naya’s girlfriend Dani on ‘Glee, ” Lovato said. “The character Naya played, Santana Lopez, was groundbreaking for closeted queer girls, like I was at the time. And her ambition and accomplishments inspired Latina women all over the world.”
Rivera accidentally drowned during a boating trip at Lake Piru, California, on July 8, 2020
Her Glee character Santana Lopez came out as a lesbian in season 2 of Glee in 2011
It has been heralded as a groundbreaking moment by LGBTQ youth advocates
Lovato played Santana s girlfriend Dani and called Rivera inspiring
16 Glee stars came together to honor Rivera including Matthew Morrison, Darren Criss, Heather Morris, Jane Lynch and Jenna Ushkowitz
They recalled her best role was that of mom to son Josey, now five
‘Glee’ Cast Honors Naya Rivera: “Her Best Role Was Being a Mom” Chris Gardner
Ten years ago on Fox’s
Glee, Santana Lopez came out of the closet as a lesbian as she found her voice on the beloved teen musical series. Played by actress Naya Rivera, the character has since been praised as a groundbreaking role model for LGBTQ teens and LGBTQ Latinx teens.
To honor the milestone and pay tribute to the late Rivera, who drowned last July while boating with her son at Lake Piru in Ventura County, California, 16
Glee cast members gathered virtually as part of Thursday night’s GLAAD Media Awards. The organization was a champion of the hit show, honoring it as outstanding comedy series twice in back-to-back ceremonies, in 2010 and 2011. Rivera also hosted the show on two occasions, once by herself and another time opposite
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Glee cast reunite to pay tribute to Naya Rivera I don t believe that she realised how important she was to this world.
Glee s cast have reunited to pay tribute to Naya Rivera.
On Thursday night (April 8), her former
Glee co-stars took part in a special presentation in her honour at the 32nd annual GLAAD Media Awards
.
Introduced by Demi Lovato, who guess-starred on Glee as Santana s girlfriend Dani, those who took part included Matthew Morrison, Heather Morris, Chris Colfer, Amber Riley, Harry Shum Jr, Jane Lynch, Jenna Ushkowitz and Darren Criss.
Glee Cast Reunites to Pay Tribute to Naya Rivera at GLAAD Media Awards
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The cast of “Glee” reunited virtually to remember Naya Rivera, who died last July at the age of 33, at the GLAAD Media Awards on Thursday.
The tribute was opened by Demi Lovato, who had a brief role on the Fox series alongside Rivera.
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“I don’t have to tell you that this year was a tough, tough year,” Lovato said. “A particular moment of heartbreak stands out for me: losing my friend Naya Rivera. I will always cherish the chance I got to play Naya’s girlfriend, Dani, on ‘Glee. ”