Celebs Share Messages of Hope After Naya Rivera Goes Missing
Former costars and fellow celebrities sent prayers to Naya Rivera after the Glee alum went missing on Wednesday, July 8, during a boat ride with her 4-year-old son, Josey.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department told Us Weekly that Rivera, 33, rented a motorized pontoon boat for three hours at Lake Piru near Los Angeles. She was 30 minutes overdue to return the boat, so personnel went searching and found the vessel adrift with Josey asleep on it. He was alone.
“It is believed that Naya and her son were swimming in the lake near the boat and as they were getting back into the boat, her son made it into the boat and Naya went under water and did not resurface,” the department said in a statement to Us.
A large-scale search that involved drone teams, a sheriff’s boat and a dive team was conducted from 4:38 p.m. to 10 p.m. The sheriff’s office said the “search was terminated … due to darkness” and is set to resume at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 9, with “additional divers and sonar equipment.”
Captain Eric Buschow of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, meanwhile, told Us that Josey was found wearing a life vest in compliance with California law but “another vest [was found] on board the boat for an adult, so it looks like [Rivera] was not wearing” hers.
“The fact that she was seen in the water shows there is a high likelihood that she drowned,” Buschow said, noting that “all indications point” to the actress being dead.
Rivera shares Josey with her ex-husband, Ryan Dorsey, to whom she was married from 2014 to 2018. In addition to starring as Santana Lopez on all six seasons of Glee, she had roles in The Royal Family and Devious Maids.
Scroll down to see messages of hope that celebrities shared in the wake of the news.
Ne-Yo
The musician, who appears alongside Rivera on Step Up: High Water, shared the show’s “Praying for Naya” graphic via his Instagram Stories.
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Terrence Green
“Aye God … I know we ask a lot of you … because we know what you’re capable of … do that thing you do because I can’t think straight 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽,” Green, who plays Rigo Octavio on the Step Up series, wrote via Instagram, adding the hashtags, “#findnayarivera #prayfornaya.”
Courtesy Terrence Green/Instagram
Marcus Emanuel Mitchell
“Praying for our sister. We love you Naya,” the Step Up: High Water star wrote alongside a cast photo via Instagram.
Courtesy Marcus Emanuel Mitchell/Instagram
Jade Chynoweth
“Praying so hard for our kind, talented, gorgeous @nayarivera to return home safely. #bringnayaback,” the dancer wrote. “Refusing to assume the worst and keeping positivity and love in my heart. We love you.”
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Kendra Oyesanya
“My sister, my cast-mate, my friend,” the actress who plays Poppy on the Step Up TV series wrote via Instagram. “I am praying hard for your return! @nayarivera please be OK!!!”
Courtesy Kendra Oyesanya/Instagram
Demi Lovato
“Please pray for @nayarivera to be found safe and sound,” the pop star, who played Santana’s love interest Dani on season 5 of Glee, wrote on her Instagram Stories.
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Heather Morris
“We need all the prayers we can get to bring our Naya back home to us,” the actress, who starred as Brittany S. Pierce on Glee, wrote on her Instagram Stories. “We need your love and light.”
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Kristin Chenoweth
“Praying they find @NayaRivera,” the Broadway star, who appeared in five episodes of Glee through the years, tweeted.
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Tiffany Haddish
In response to Rivera’s past tweet asking a fan what would “interest and inspire” them most, the comedic actress responded, “You being ALIVE and telling us all a story about how you survived. Please God.”
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Ashley Greene
“Praying you’re somehow safe @NayaRivera,” the Twilight actress tweeted.
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Chord Overstreet
“Love and hug on the people you can, while you can,” the actor-singer, who played Sam Evans, tweeted. “I love you. Everyone please send out your prayers.”
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Cheyenne Jackson
“Praying for a miracle,” the American Horror Story star, who appeared as Vocal Adrenaline director Dustin Goolsby on Glee, wrote via Instagram. “This is Unimaginable. … Love you Naya.”
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Lauren Potter
“Naya we just talked on my birthday I love you,” the Special Olympics advocate, who had a recurring role as cheerleader Becky Johnson, tweeted.
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Harry Shum Jr.
“Praying,” the actor, who played Mike Chang on the show, tweeted.
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Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi
“Waking up to Naya Rivera missing is an absolute tragedy,” the Jersey Shore: Family Vacation star tweeted. “Praying for her safety. So absolutely heartbreaking thinking of her 4 year old. #FindNaya.”
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Bethenny Frankel
“The story about @NayaRivera is the most horrifying thing I have read about in a while,” the Real Housewives of New York City alum tweeted. “My heart goes out to her family. What a terrible trauma.”
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Andy Cohen
“Praying for Naya Rivera and her family,” the Bravo producer tweeted. “Can’t stop thinking of her poor son.”
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Victoria Justice
“Praying for Naya,” the Victorious alum tweeted.
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Iqbal Theba
“Oh God… mercy… please…” Theba, who portrayed Principal Figgins, tweeted.
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Max Adler
The actor, who played jock Dave Karofsky, tweeted three praying-hand emojis.
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Damian McGinty
“Sick to my stomach,” the Glee Project winner, who had a recurring role as exchange student Rory Flanagan, tweeted. “Please pray.”
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Vanessa Lengies
“I love her. I love you,” the American Dreams alum, who played Sugar Motta on Glee, tweeted. “Holding you tight.”
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Jackée Harry
“Prayers up for the lovely Naya Rivera,” Harry’s The Royal Family costar tweeted. “We starred alongside one another in her first very television series, The Royal Family, and I’ve watched her career blossom ever since. Please God, don’t cut this life short.”
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Yvette Nicole Brown
“Dear God… Please pray for Naya and her son,” the Community alum tweeted. “I pray she is found okay.”
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Karamo Brown
“Praying for Naya Rivera,” the Queer Eye star tweeted. “I don’t know her but I hope she is safe.”
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