Prior to her death in July 2020, Naya Rivera was romantically linked to a few famous faces over the years. The actress died at the age of 33 from an accidental drowning on July 8, 2020 after renting a motorized pontoon boat with Josey on Lake Piru in California. She was reported missing, and after a five-day search, police confirmed that they found her body in the lake on July 13, 2020.
A little over three months after her death, it was reported that late actress sister, Nickayla Rivera, had moved in with the Glee star’s ex-husband, Ryan Dorsey, to help him take care of the former couple’s 5-year-old son, Josey. Naya and Ryan were married for four years, from July 2014 until June 2018. In an emotional Instagram video uploaded in September 2020, the actor addressed the rumors.
“It’s truly sad that this is the world that we live in, where people were raised to think it’s OK to just spew hatred in general,” Ryan said. “Especially when you make statements about a family who are dealing with a tragedy that I hope is so unimaginable that you or anyone that is close to you never has to go through.”
He continued, “I wake up, I go to sleep sad every night, staring at the ceiling. I’m staring at the wall and I think to myself, how lucky I am to, to still have my mom and to have her help out in my life still. And then I think about how he won’t have that same opportunity in his future.”
Ryan’s social media post came one day after the Daily Mail published photos of him and Nickayla on various outings together throughout the month of September. The publication obtained pictures of the pair moving things out of his Los Angeles home and into a newly rented house on September 6. The Daily Mail also shared photos of two shopping together on September 13 and 19. After the photos went public, sources told Entertainment Tonight that Nickayla and Ryan are “great team” when it comes to raising Josey.
In his video, Ryan spoke out about speculation that they were living together.
“[Josey] asked me if Titi can live with us. ‘I want Titi to live with us forever’ because she’s now the closest thing that he has to a mom,” he said, referring to Nickayla. “Because you’re gonna need all the help you can get as a single parent trying to build your career and navigate this disaster with your child.”
Ryan added, “And to have to let him get what he wants, you know, what he asks for and what he needs right now, which is his family. Even though if you know it’s temporary and it’s not forever. It’s a temporary situation and after all that he’s had to go through, how could you deny him that?”
Nickayla also spoke out. After the initial reports hit the web, she took to Instagram Stories with a candid post. “In the darkest time of my life, the only thing that is important is my friends [and] family. Showing up for my nephew, even though I can’t show up for myself,” Nickayla told followers. “I’m not concerned with the way things look because no one can see each agonizing moment we all endure.”
She continued, “What matters most I’ve learned, is to show compassion, not to judge others [and] never take a moment of life for granted. I hope you all can do the same.”
Aside from Ryan, Naya was linked to other stars. Scroll through our gallery for a complete guide to the star’s love life and past relationships.
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