Jane Lynch fought back tears at the Emmys to pay tribute to her co-star Cory Monteith, calling the late Glee actor a “beautiful soul,” who was “not perfect.”

Her comments come amid a heated debate that has dogged Hollywood for days, about the decision to pay a special tribute to the late actor who died of a heroin overdose this summer.

The actress seemed to directly answer those critics who said it was in poor taste to pay homage to the 31-year-old while ignoring legendary actors like Dallas star Larry Hagman and Quincy’s Jack Klugman who also died in the past year.

Cory Monteith Tribute - Emmy's 2013 by IdolxMuzic

Speaking of the “painful death” that the Glee family suffered, she said: “From the first time you saw Cory he had a star