2020 has been a really tough year for every single one of us around the world. It’s very scary and surprising, to be honest — on how abrupt our lives can change in just a year.  

It just felt like we are characters trapped in a tragic fictional series, and sequence of unfortunate events keep unfolding upon us without prior notice. From the awful news in January about the explosion of Taal volcano, the potential World War III, the forest wildfire in Australia. We thought these are the worst events the world could ever experience — but these are just the tip of the iceberg — as COVID-19 pandemic happened. 2020 is indeed has been a very hard pill to swallow.

But aside from these dreadful happenings, what has really been shocking to most of us are the sudden deaths of the local and international celebrities who were well-acknowledged in their respective fields. This year has made us bid goodbye to some famous faces from the world of entertainment in the most shocking ways.

Here’s a look of some personalities we’ve lost in 2020 whose presence will be missed and never be forgotten.

Kobe Bryant

NBA Legend Kobe Bryant who tragically passed away at 41, with her daughter Gianna Bryant, 13, and seven others in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on January 26, is truly an inspiration to a lot of people, most especially to the basketball fans. Kobe Bryant was known for being a five-time NBA champion and the star of the LA Lakers throughout his career.  He is considered one of the greatest players in the game’s history and forever will be the “Black Mamba” of the basketball court.

Chadwick Boseman

Chadwick Boseman was known for his role as the Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He died on August 28 at the age of 43, after a four-year battle with advanced-stage colon cancer. No one knew that he was sick, which left people, that’s why his passing is one of the most shocking celebrity deaths this year.  Despite Black Panther star’s sudden passing, he left a legacy that has inspired many people and made a huge cultural impact, especially for the African-American people.

Naya Rivera

Naya Rivera, known for her role as Santana Lopez in an American musical TV series “Glee,” which became a massively popular musical television series in the US that ended in 2015, was reported missing on July 9, while boating with her four-year old son. Rivera was also on the CBS sitcom "The Royal Family" and in the comedy film "The Master of Disguise." Her recent project was being in the "Step Up" television series, based on the movie franchise.

Lloyd Cafe Cadena

The family of Lloyd Cadena, also known as Kween LC, announced his sudden demise on September 4 due to cardiac arrest while asleep. Kween LC is one of the few who pioneered vlogging in the Phillippines. He had been known with his constant act of kindness. Instead of creating cliché contents in front of the camera, Lloyd had a treatment of a show-don’t-tell approach. He took his viewers through his good-deed process in the same way some beauty vloggers do makeup tutorials. His kindness was always on show, but it never seemed to be just for a show-off, everything was genuine, real, and candid.

Emman Nimedez

It was in May 2020 when vlogger Emman Nimedez revealed on his vlog that he has acute myeloid leukemia. He laid to rest in August 16, at the St. Luke’s Medical Center – Quezon City, with his family beside him. Emman Nimedez's funeral was attended by many of his closest friends including Team Payaman. Emman rose to fame on YouTube back in 2017 after making a parody video of the hit K-Drama series Goblin which earned him the nickname, “Pambansang Oppa.”

Chichi Devayne

Chi Chi Devayne, one of the most iconic and talented Drag Queens from Rupaul’s Drag Race Season 8 and All-Stars 3, died on August 20 after her battle with pneumonia, high blood pressure, and suspected kidney failure. Her sudden death left a mark in the drag community as she was one of the most celebrated queens from the reality show and the drag community.

Aside from these personalities whom we dearly miss, veteran local actress Anita Linda, actor Menggie Cobarrubias, and veteran singer April Boy Regino had joined our creator this year as well, a great loss indeed in the industry of the Philippine cinema and OPM.

It a really sad year for everyone this year — a lot of us lost job, normal lives, and loved ones. Although these people had gone too soon, their legacy and memories will always remain in our hearts.