Amber Riley gives a powerful performance in memory of her friend and “Glee” co-star Naya Rivera.
On Thursday’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” the actress and singer performed a new track called “A Moment,” off her self-titled EP out October 2.
“Not too long ago, we both lost a really amazing friend in a tragic accident and we both will miss her forever,” guest host Lil Rel Howery said in Riley’s introduction. “I want to thank the show for really letting us do this and [Riley’s] here to perform a tribute to our good friend, Naya Rivera.”
During Riley’s moving tribute, photos of Rivera — including one of her and her son Josey, 4 — flashed across the screen.
At the end of her performance, Riley turned to look at Rivera’s image behind her.
Watch the touching video, below:
On July 8, Rivera accidentally drowned during a boating trip with Josey in Ventura County, California.
Days later, on July 13, her body was found in the northeast portion of Lake Piru.
At a press conference that day, Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub told reporters that Rivera may have spent her final moments saving Josey, who was found alone on a boat wearing a life jacket.
“We know from speaking with her son, that he and Naya swam in the lake together at some point during their journey. It was during that time that her son described being helped into the boat by Naya, who boosted him onto the deck from behind,” the sheriff said. “He told investigators that he looked back and saw her disappear under the surface of the water.”
Ayub continued, “The idea perhaps being that the boat started drifting, it was unanchored, and that she mustered enough energy to get her son back onto the boat, but not enough to save herself.”
July 23 on Instagram, Riley honored Rivera by posting a carousel of images of them performing together.
“I’m so mad the world will never see how high you could have soared,” Amber wrote about Naya. “Her brain was brilliant. She was smart and as quick as a whip. Always had me in stitches, we would be in tears laughing so hard at one another.”
The next day, Rivera was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles.
She will be missed.
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