I'm honored to be joining my GLEE co-stars at the #GLAADawards to pay tribute to LGBTQ teens and honor the legacy and impact of Naya Rivera and her character Santana Lopez. April 8 on @hulu and @YouTube @GLAAD pic.twitter.com/dkMX7R85sd— Darren Criss (@DarrenCriss) March 24, 2021
March 24 (UPI) -- The cast of the musical comedy-drama series Glee will reunite at the 2021 GLAAD Media Awards in April.
GLAAD said Wednesday that Heather Morris, Darren Criss, Matthew Morrison, Jane Lynch, Chris Colfer, Amber Riley, Jenna Ushkowitz and other former Glee stars will honor late actress Naya Rivera's character, Santana Lopez, during the awards show.
Singer and actress Demi Lovato, who played Santana's girlfriend Dani on Glee, will introduce the tribute, which honors the 10-year anniversary of Santana's coming out and the character's impact on LGBTQ teens and Latinx LGBTQ representation on television.
Rivera died of an accidental drowning at age 33 in July. Colfer, who played Kurt Hummel on Glee, remembered Rivera as a "cool older sister" in a tribute the same month.
"How could a human being be that talented, that hilarious and that beautiful at once? How could one person be responsible for so much joy and be the subject of so many wonderful memories?" the actor said.
"Just being in Naya's presence made you feel protected and regardless of the situation, you knew she'd have your back," he added.
Riley performed her song "A Memory" as a tribute to Rivera on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon in August.
Actress Niecy Nash will host the GLAAD Media Awards, which will take place during a virtual ceremony April 8. Katy Perry, JoJo Siwa, Sam Smith and other celebrities will make appearances.
Netflix is the most-nominated network at this year's awards show, with 26 nominations.
