Rapper Big Sean broke his silence on the death of his ex-fiancée, Naya Rivera, with an emotional Instagram post Friday.

Big Sean, who is known for 'Bounce Back,' shared a photo of Rivera and said he still can't believe the 'Glee' actress had passed.

When the tragedy was unfolding, Big Sean - real name Sean Anderson - stayed quiet. He settled for liking posts praying for Rivera's safe return before posting on Instagram, reported Metro UK.

He posted five days after his ex-fiancée was declared dead following her accidental drowning in Lake Piru in Southern California, noted Rolling Stone. The Ventura County Sheriff's Office believed Rivera drowned on July 8 after saving her son from a rip current while on a boating trip.

Authorities had been looking for Rivera on July 8 when she went missing after going on a boating trip with her son Josey Dorsey. The toddler told the police that his mother went swimming and did not return.

What happened originally was a search and rescue mission was turned into a recovery search and, later on, ended when Rivera's body was found July 13.

A Hero for Many

Big Sean captioned his photo with thanks for the actress in blessing everyone with her talent and presence. "You are a hero!" he wrote.

He said Rivera wasn't just a hero for saving her son but also because of the "barriers" she knocked down for fans "to make them feel confident in themselves and stand tall and be proud when they couldn't achieve that on their own," reported USA Today.

Rivera played the role of Santana Lopez in the hit series 'Glee.' Her role was described by the show's creators as filled with "humor and humanity." It was one of the first times an openly lesbian high school relationship was seen on network TV.

Big Sean shared a black-and-white photo of Rivera and a photo of her cuddling her son Josey.

"I appreciate and cherish everything that ever happened between us for making me wiser and a better person," he wrote. He continued, saying he was still grieving and in shock.

"I can't believe this is real," he said.

The rapper said he's praying for his ex-fiancée and her family. He said he knows that Rivera is watching over and protecting the loved ones she left behind in the post.

Other stars like Macklmore and Snoh Aalegra commented on the heartfelt post with heart emojis.

Their history

Big Sean and Rivera began dating in 2013 after the rapper's split with his high school sweetheart Ashley Marie. Rivera said he followed Big Sean, and he sent her a little message saying, "I'm a fan."

According to Rivera, they went to dinner, and the rest is history.

They collaborated on Rivera's debut single 'Sorry' that was released in September 2013. A month later, they announced their engagement.

At the time, Rivera believed Sean would make an amazing husband. With Latinas having a very independent and strong character, she found Sean's efforts to let her out of the role sweet.

In April 2014, their relationship soured, and they broke off their engagement.

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