Skai Jackson paid tribute to her friend, the late Cameron Boyce, in a moving performance on Dancing With the Stars. On July 6, 2019, Cameron passed away at the age of 20 from an epileptic seizure. Prior to his death, Cameron and Skai worked together for four years on the Disney show Jessie.
Cameron and Skai were cast on the Disney series alongside other actors like Debby Ryan and Payton List. When Jessie began, Cameron, 12, and Skai, 9, were both young, which made them all the more close. Though the series ended in 2015, the cast remained right. Skai confessed that spending most of her childhood with the cast gave her lifelong friends.
In reference to Cameron, Skai said, "He was in my life for half of my life, which is crazy. We built up this bond for years and years and years (via ET)." When the devastating news of Cameron's passing broke, Skai was one of the many celebrities who took to social media to remember the actor. She posted several photos on Instagram showcasing their long-time friendship, writing, "Cam, you were one of a kind. My heart will be forever broken. I am so happy that I got to spend almost every day with you on set, you gave the best hugs. I wish I could have hugged you tighter when I saw you a couple of months ago. Thank you so much for being the big brother I never had." See her touching post in full below:
Prior to Skai's performance, she made a pre-taped video package to commemorate Cameron. During the interview, Skai was brought to tears when talking about her friend, "[Cameron] taught me so much, even little things like being a kind person, being motivated, wanting to try harder." She stressed the importance of dedicating the dance to Cameron, confessing that she knew he would be so proud of her because he loved Dancing With The Stars. Skai's dance received a 28/30, getting a ten from Carrie Ann Inaba and two nines from Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli. Of course, the high score brought a smile to Skai's face, but she was mostly happy to have honored Cameron's memory, "It's sad he's not here to see it... I know that he would be really proud of me.' See the dance in full below:
Cameron's parents were touched after watching Skai's performance. His mother, Libby Boyce, told People, "for Skai to have the opportunity to share her love of Cameron in that way was just really special and touching." Cameron's father, who has known Skai since the age of 7, added, "She looked beautiful - she really projected grace, and it was just heartfelt." The parents continue to mourn, but keep his memory and legacy alive by launching the Cameron Boyce Foundation. The charity aims to provide young people with artistic and creative outlets, as well as raise awareness about epilepsy. The foundation additionally promotes charity organizations that were close to Cameron's heart. Skai has posted numerous times on social media promoting the foundation and continues to keep Cameron's memory alive.
With the help of Cameron's parents, friends, and co-stars, the late actor's legacy will continue to inspire others with his positive attitude, creativity, and originality. Skai Jackson's incredible and heartfelt performance on Dancing With The Stars undoubtedly motivated audiences to learn more about Cameron's work and foundation.
Source: ET, People, Skai Jackson/Instagram, Dancing With the Stars
