Fans of the late Naya Rivera are calling out the Recording Academy after they noticed she was missing from the In Memoriam tribute during the show.
Last summer, the “Glee” actress was found dead after being reported missing during a boating trip with her young son. A few days later, her body was recovered from the lake. After speaking with her son, authorities believe she was overpowered by a current while swimming in the water. They also believe that she was able to muster up enough strength to save her son and get him back on the boat, where he was later found alone.
Although Rivera, who was previously nominated for Grammys alongside her “Glee” cast, was included on the Grammys website under the “list of artists and industry professionals the music community lost in 2020–2021,” she was absent from the live telecast, which made her fans question the award show.
Twitter user @queenfandom32 wrote, “So disappointed in the #GRAMMYs for not including @NayaRivera, who gave so much to the music industry. So, let’s all just take today remembering Naya the way the Grammys couldn’t.”
“Naya Rivera was a singer, not just an actress,” tweeted @schmatacus. “She was a two-time Grammy nominee. Had a career that spanned more than two decades. She died saving her son’s life. The fact that the @RecordingAcad didn’t see fit to include her in the In Memoriam section is disgraceful. #GRAMMYs.”
Social media user @Craig_Mc_B tweeted, “@RecordingAcad how could you forget to include #NayaRivera last night? A massive snub at last night’s #Grammy #GrammyAwards after such a tragic loss this past year.”
“The @RecordingAcad decided to not include Naya Rivera in the on-air ‘In Memoriam’ part of the show,” tweeted @fran_topaz. “I’m disappointed and utterly heartbroken. Naya gave SO much to the music world. She deserves a mention AT LEAST. Put some respect on her name. #grammys.”
“And since the #GRAMMYs failed to do so, I’ll do it myself,” @fran_topaz wrote in a follow-up tweet. “Naya Marie Rivera (1987-2020). A powerhouse voice & a heart full of gold. You left a mark on this world that will never go unnoticed nor will it ever be forgotten. We love you, Naya! We all miss you.”