Charlie Puth mourned the loss of the late Christina Grimmie in Wantagh, New York at the WBLI Summer Jam Saturday night (June 11).
The Rumson, New Jersey native shared a kinship with Grimmie, a fellow New Jerseyan from Evesham Township who began her career on YouTube and went on to place third on The Voice. Both artists hailed from the same state, and both began their careers uploading songs on YouTube.
Fifth Harmony Pays Tribute to Christina Grimmie at WBLI Summer Jam
Puth expressed his grief, dedicating his hit, “See You Again” — written for the late Paul Walker of The Fast and the Furious — to the singer.
Before beginning the song, Puth said he was saddened to hear the news that Grimmie was shot and killed by a deranged fan while signing autographs outside of a meet-and-greet in Orlando, Florida.
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“I was reading the news last night and heard that my good friend Christina Grimmie was killed, and I want to dedicate this song to her tonight,” he told the audience at The Nikon at Jones Beach Theater. “I’ve been upset about this all day, mainly because I just never got to say what I wanted to say to her, and I feel like this song perfectly captures that.”
Grimmie was gunned down after opening for pop-rock band Before You Exit at the Plaza Live on June 10. Her assailant, 27-year-old Kevin James Loibl, was quickly tackled by Grimmie’s brother Mark before shooting himself.
Watch the performance below:
charlie puth dedicated his song “see you again” to christina tonight #RIPChristina
— hafsa (@bopmani) June 12, 2016