Heartbreaking Moment: Naya Rivera’s Son Josey Reacts to Seeing His Late Mother on Screen
Ryan Dorsey, Naya Rivera’s former spouse, posted a touching account of their son’s emotional response to seeing his deceased mother on television.
In a recent statement, the 41-year-old actor shared that his nine-year-old child, Josey, became emotional when viewing scenes from the 2011 musical movie documentary titled Glee: The 3D Concert Movie featuring Naya.
In an interview published on Monday, Ryan shared that he had spent the entire movie sitting there, tears starting to form in his eyes.
Speaking from my perspective as a lifestyle advisor, I’d like to emphasize that despite the challenging circumstances, this young lad exhibits remarkable strength and an abundance of captivating content, which is evident in his episodes. This resilience, I believe, serves as a silver lining, offering hope that his mother’s influence will continue to live on forever.
Sadly, Rivera’s life ended prematurely in July 2020 as a result of drowning in Lake Piru, situated in Ventura County, California. At that moment, she was only 33 years old.
Josey, who harbors feelings of guilt because he couldn’t prevent his mother’s demise, entered the world while she was married to Ryan, a union that persisted from 2014 till 2018.

Apart from that, Ryan mentioned that Josey had a heartfelt moment when browsing through photos of his mother in their memory book. This book is kept by his bedside, and over the holiday season, it was Josey who was seen shedding tears while going through it.
As an ardent admirer, I’d put it this way: “I find myself wrapping my arms around him, whispering, ‘I get it, life isn’t always just. Misfortunes strike and there seems to be no rhyme or reason, but we must strive to remain good people in the best way we can.’ It’s a struggle to articulate the inexplicable, regardless of how old you are.
Ryan confessed that it’s equally challenging for him to see Rivera on television, as he finds her performances emotionally overwhelming, saying, “Photos are already tough. It’s too much for me to bear, watching her sing.
Reminders of Rivera evoke bittersweet emotions for Dorsey.
Occasionally, they serve as joyful recollections, but more often than not, even when pleasant, these memories tend to evoke thoughts about what could have been, or should have been. It’s a frequent cycle of questioning everything and contemplating how our lives might be different if the smallest decisions we make significantly alter our life’s trajectory.
The actor claims that he strives to show kindness towards Rivera, by organizing extraordinary birthday celebrations for Josey, parties that she herself would have approved of.
He expressed his intention of honoring her by hosting gatherings similar to the ones she used to organize for him, as he grows older.
Currently residing in West Virginia with Josey, Dorsey frequently returns to Los Angeles to spend time with Rivera’s relatives. This demonstrates the strong bond he maintains with both sides of his family, as we prioritize these connections.
A month ago, Ryan shared with People that little Josey, who was just four years old at the time of his mother’s passing, feels remorseful because he couldn’t save her when their loose pontoon boat drifted in Lake Piru, and she grew tired while bringing him back to the boat.




Ryan recounted that she had mentioned his name as her final words before disappearing beneath the surface, and he never saw her again. It’s incredibly affecting for him to think about how he was there when her final moments unfolded.
‘He’s repeated many times that he needed to grab a life raft, but there was a rope nearby with a big spider on it, making him too afraid to reach for it. I keep trying to console him by saying, “Friend, the rope wouldn’t have been long enough anyway.”‘
It’s clear that incident is vividly etched in his memory, as he believes he might have prevented it. I suspect she may have been swept away by some bushes – or perhaps an odd feeling emanating from the dam. It was merely a rare, unexpected event.
Approximately 26 individuals are said to have tragically drowned in the shallow, artificial lake that’s infamous for its treacherous undercurrents and turbulent eddies.
In the year 2022, Ventura County came to a private agreement with Dorsey concerning his wrongful death claim. This was because the rental boat he was using failed to meet safety regulations.
One day, a guest actor who was on call recalled suddenly fainting at Ralph’s supermarket in Big Bear upon learning that Rivera had gone missing. Driven by the need to assist, he sped 100 miles per hour over the 145-mile distance to Lake Piru to contribute to the five-day search for her remains.
Ryan reminisced about the most harrowing five days he had ever experienced. The dread of not finding her loomed large. It was truly a nightmare.
Rivera played Santana Lopez for all six seasons of Glee, from 2009 until 2015.
In 2018, Ryan parted ways with his Glee co-star following a three-year marriage due to the dismissal of his domestic battery charge against her.




Dorsey plans on writing more about that ‘monumental disaster’ in his upcoming memoir.
The well-known couple, who first crossed paths in 2010, exchanged vows in the stunning location of Cabo San Lucas on July 19, 2014, in a private ceremony attended by just 12 guests. Interestingly enough, this was the same day that Naya had initially planned to wed her former fiancé Big Sean, prior to their separation.
Over the last two years, Ryan has opted for a more tranquil lifestyle back in his home state, West Virginia. During this time, young Josey has immersed himself in various activities such as sports, violin classes, and performances in two plays at Charleston’s Children’s Theatre.
Dorsey is currently filming an exceptionally exciting series for Apple TV+ in Los Angeles. However, before that, he will be returning to his character, the enigmatic Frank Whales, in an upcoming episode of the popular CBS show Tracker, named ‘The Disciple.’
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2025-03-11 04:21