Jenni Rivera’s Family Speaks Out Following Her Death as the ‘Final Photo’ of the Singer Surfaces Online
Jenni Rivera’s family is reeling from the news of her sudden death in a plane crash over the weekend. And as they try to come to grips with the unspeakable tragedy, a purported “last photo” of the singer – taken moments before takeoff – surfaces online.
[Related: Jenni Rivera, Mexican-American Singer, Dies in Plane Crash]
“She never gave up and she was good to everyone,” the 43-year-old performer’s father, Pedro, told reporters outside his home in Lakewood, California, on Sunday. Rivera’s brother Pedro Jr. told E! News that his sister’s death was a “devastation to the family,” but was remaining positive, adding, "Life is like that. We live and we die. We may be sad, but when God has the last word for all of us in our last days, it's time to go. And this was the way Jenni had to go."
Rivera, who recently got divorced for the third time and has five children, had been in Monterrey, Mexico, for a concert appearance on Saturday night. En route to a town outside Mexico City early Sunday morning after the show, air traffic controllers lost contact with the plane Rivera was on with two pilots and four other passengers, reportedly including her publicist, Arturo Rivera, her stylist, Jorge Sanchez, her makeup artist, Jacob Yebale, and her attorney, Mario Macias. Wreckage was later discovered and authorities said there were no survivors. Rivera’s California driver license and the Mexican passport of Miguel Perez Soto, who was one of the pilots, was found in the debris.
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What is believed to be the final photo of the performer, who was nicknamed “Diva de la Banda,” has since been discovered online. It was posted by Yebale to Instagram on Sunday and it shows Rivera and the four others aboard what appears to be a private airplane. They’re all smiling, waving, and appear to be in good spirits in the photo, making the situation even more upsetting. “We getting Back To Mexico City,” Yebale wrote with the photo. “Jenni Rivera, Arturo, Gigi and Me. Los Amooo!”
One of the last pics Rivera posted to her own Twitter page was leading up to Saturday’s concert in Monterrey. In the photo, she is smiling while holding a sign which references what turned out to be her final show. The English translation is: "See you this 7th in Colima, 8 in Monterrey."
Other celebrities have been posting reactions to Rivera’s death on the social media site as well. “So sad!! Praying for Jenni Rivera’s children and family and the passengers families,” Jennifer Lopez tweeted on Sunday. Eva Longoria shared, “My heart breaks for the loss of Jenni Rivera & everyone on the plane. My prayers go out to her family. We lost a legend today.” And Paulina Rubio grieved, "My friend! Why? There is no consolation. God, please help me!"
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