Naya Rivera, best known for her breakthrough performance as Santana Lopez on Fox’s television series Glee, died of what was ruled an accidental drowning, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. On July 8, Rivera went missing after renting a pontoon boat and going for a swim with her 4-year-old son at Lake Piru, California. She son was found later sleeping in the boat with his life vest on.

The loss of Rivera is felt by millions. Many have shared touching memories, expressed their condolences and shared photos with Rivera on social media, including loving tributes to the beloved actress from friends, family, fellow actors and producers who worked with her.

“RIP Naya Rivera,” singer, songwriter and actress Demi Lovato tweeted. “I’ll forever cherish the opportunity to play your girlfriend on Glee. The character you played was groundbreaking for tons of closeted (at the time) queer girls like me, and your ambition and accomplishments were inspiring to Latina women all over the world.” 

“She played by her own rules and was in a class of her own. She had a brashness about her that I couldn’t help but be enchanted by.” Glee co-star Darren Criss tweeted. “I also always loved her voice, and savored every chance I got to hear her sing. I think she had more talent than we would have ever been able to see.” 

Rivera began her acting career at just four years old on the set of CBS’s sitcom The Royal Family in 1991. She landed small roles over the years, but Rivera’s portrayal of Santana Lopez on Glee truly showcased her talent. 

Although Rivera’s character in Glee initially began as just another stereotypical popular cheerleader, she grew into a complex and fierce character that quickly made her a fan favorite. Her depiction of the lesbian Latina on Glee resonated with millions as Rivera brought Santana’s story of coming to terms with her sexual identity to life.

Naya’s family released a statement through several of the Hollywood trades that read in part:

“We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers for Naya, Josey and our family…While we grieve the loss of our beautiful legend, we are blessed to honor her everlasting legacy and magnetic spirit. Naya was an amazing talent, but was an even greater person, mother, daughter and sister.

“Her beauty and talent were out worldly,” Glee co-star Chris Colfer, who played Kurt Hummel, wrote in an Instagram post. “She spoke truth to power with poise and fearlessness.”  

“Naya Rivera was a fierce talent with so much more to do and this is such a terrible tragedy,” 20th Century Fox Television and Fox Entertainment said in a statement. “We are forever grateful for the indelible contribution she made to Glee from the first episode to the last. Our hearts are broken and our thoughts go out to Naya’s family, friends and young son.” 

The impact of her role is still felt by fans today. Rivera used her platform to advocate for more diversity on television. 

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Last night’s season three finale of ABCs The Good Doctor shocked fans worldwide when their beloved character of Dr. Neil Melendez, played with profound conviction by Nicholas Gonzalez was killed off.

It was a surprise to fans around the world but for Gonzalez he had been been told by show runner David Shore, two thirds of the way into season, three that Dr. Melendez would be killed off.

In an interview with TV line, Gonzalez talks about the awkwardness of the situation; Continuing to film each episode knowing, what some of his cast members did not, that the season finale would be his last.

In an interview with TV Line, Gonzalez talked about that.

“TVLINE | So you really only had a few weeks to process everything…
[Gonzalez]: Which is really interesting, you know? Filming all that with the knowledge [that Melendez was going to die].”

In yet another interview with Entertainment Weekly Gonzalez talked about his feelings about leaving the show:

“Part of me is sad to see a character I respected a lot go, someone I felt that still had a lot more to say but there wasn’t always that opportunity, and I feel like we really built a beautiful world around that character, as much as can be in a show like ours where we’re still a procedural as well. The ever gracious Gonzalez added, “So to me, it’s been nothing but a blessing.”

The storyline certainly did not prepare viewers for the sudden death of Melendez, in fact there is not a specific reason in the story line that this was coming. Shore was vague about the reason of the demise of Dr. Melendez when Deadline writer Matt Grobar point blank asked him that specific question:

“DEADLINE: So, there was no specific reason Dr. Melendez ended up on the chopping block?
SHORE: I’d rather not go into it, particularly. None of it is personal. You know, Nick was fantastic, and there’s nothing I can say to you that will make you go, “Oh, yeah. Okay. It had to be that way.” We wanted to lose a character that we would feel something about, and feel pain about, and certainly, he’s a character that so many of them have been in touch with. Lim had a relationship with him; Claire was starting a relationship with him; Shaun obviously had his thing with him, although their paths don’t really cross in the finale. I think that would have been largely true for any of our characters, but it’s particularly true for him. Look, this is the nature of these sorts of shows, I believe, is you go forward, and people come and go…”

Fans across the world who took to social media had plenty to say about their favorite doctor’s death. Hundred of thousand fans took to Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to express their opinion — almost every single one wants Dr. Neil Melendez back at the operating table.

Resurrect Dr. Neil Melendez on The Good Doctor. #ResurrectDrMelendez

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According to Nielsen, well over 6,000 talent accounts published over 164,000 pieces of social content for the 2018 television season, which drove 170 million engagements for television programs. Celebrities now drive close to 60% of all social engagement for television programs which is essential to the insights for networks, marketers, and talent seeking to capitalize on the social impact of talent.

As talent like Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian change how they engage with fans, Nielsen will continue to invest in improvements to its Social Content Ratings solution to help marketers keep pace with the shift to engage with changing consumers.

“As the producer of two of the world’s largest reality competition formats, America’s Got Talent and American Idol, we work with our talent to create extremely high levels of social engagement that keep our fans connected to these brands,” said JR Griffin, Vice President of Digital Marketing and Business Development, Fremantle, U.S. “By leveraging Nielsen’s Social Content Ratings, we are able to accurately measure our talent’s social influence and refine our strategies in real-time in order to create the most impactful campaigns.” 

About Nielsen

Nielsen is a global measurement and data analytics company that provides the most complete and trusted view available to consumers and markets worldwide. For more than 90 years Nielsen has provided data and analytics based on scientific rigor and innovation, continually developing new ways to answer the most important questions facing the media, advertising, retail, and fast-moving consumer goods industries.

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