‘Glee’ Star Naya Rivera (1987-2020)

[TMC]

https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/gle...ru-1234701961/

LAKE PIRU (CBSLA) — Authorities were searching for actress Naya Rivera Wednesday night after her 4-year-old son was found floating alone on a rented boat in Lake Piru.

According to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, Rivera rented the boat at about 1 p.m. About three hours later, another boater found the child in the boat by herself.

The boaters notified officials who immediately began a search for Rivera with the use of helicopters, drones and dive teams.

The child was said to be unharmed and told investigators that she and her mother were swimming, but his mother never got back into the boat.

Authorities were working to reunite the child with family members.

[MA]

I'm glad that the child is safe.

[MA]

‘Glee’ actress Naya Rivera presumed dead after reported missing while boating with son, officials say

https://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...a-rivera-glee/

[TMC]

Naya Rivera is the latest Glee tragedy

The 33-year-old Rivera, who is presumed dead in what the Ventura County Sheriffs are calling a "horrible accident" at Lake Piru, is the latest tragic figure associated with Ryan Murphy's 2009-15 Fox musical dramedy. In April 2011, Naya Rivera, Cory Monteith, Mark Salling and Lea Michele were photographed together filming Glee in Central Park. Of the four, Rivera is presumed dead, Monteith died of a drug overdose in 2013, Mark Salling committed suicide in 2018 after he pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography and Michele last month was accused of abusive behavior on set, for which she apologized. As one insider tells the New York Post: "I don’t know if I would say it was cursed, but it’s unfortunate for most of them. The things that have happened with some of the cast . . . it’s very sad.” ALSO: Recalling Naya Rivera's most memorable roles, from Glee to Family Matters.

[MA]

‘Glee’ star Naya Rivera shared chilling message days before disappearance

https://pagesix.com/2020/07/09/naya-...disappearance/

Security camera footage shows Naya Rivera boarding boat in hours before disappearance

https://www.foxnews.com/entertainmen...-disappearance

Naya Rivera Search: Actress Had Experience Boating on Lake Where Police Believe She Drowned

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/...224657492.html

[MA]

Authorities release underwater footage of lake where Naya Rivera went missing, call conditions 'very difficult'

https://www.foxnews.com/entertainmen...ult-conditions

Pregnant Lea Michele DELETES her Twitter account amid relentless trolling over her strained relationship with Glee co-star Naya Rivera who is presumed dead

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbi...ya-Rivera.html

Police Say Investigation into Naya Rivera's Disappearance Points to 'a Tragic Accident'

https://people.com/tv/naya-riveras-d...cident-police/

Tahj Mowry calls ex Naya Rivera his ‘first’ love in emotional dedication

https://pagesix.com/2020/07/11/tahj-...al-dedication/

Officials searching for Naya Rivera using sonar equipment to scour the murky waters

https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/11/enter...ion/index.html

Search for missing Naya Rivera continues as thousands sign petition for warning signs at Lake Piru

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/...203532194.html

Naya Rivera's Dad Joins Mom, Brother in Lake Piru Search, Emotional Visit

https://www.tmz.com/2020/07/11/naya-...still-missing/

[MA]

Body Found in Lake Piru Where Naya Rivera Went Missing

https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/bod...KoCUNH28NsLx8c

[MA]

'Glee' Actress Naya Rivera Dead at 33, Body Recovered from Lake Piru

https://www.tmz.com/2020/07/13/naya-...-dies-33-glee/

[TMC]

Amber Riley and Kevin McHale: Stop judging Glee stars who haven't spoken out about Naya Rivera's disappearance

"Show some respect," tweeted Riley after fellow Glee stars received criticism for not speaking out about Rivera. "All our energy is going toward helping find Naya and praying for her safe return and for her family. No one owes anyone online a performance of grief. This is very real and devastating. Focus on Naya and her family. Not us. We don’t matter right now." Fellow Glee alum McHale retweeted Riley, adding: "I cannot begin to understand what Naya’s family must be feeling. I know the rest of us are completely shattered, but not without hope. Please respect her family & their privacy in this moment. Please refrain from judging those who don’t show their pain on social media." ALSO: Lea Michele's Twitter deactivated after "truly horrific bullying" directed at her in the wake of Rivera's disappearance.

• Naya Rivera took a basic character and made her unforgettable: The late Glee star "was a fearsome screen presence who made meals out of whatever crumbs she got," says Caroline Framke. "While she began her TV career sparkling with winsome charm as a child actor on sitcoms like Family Matters and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, it was on Glee that she got to prove the full breadth of what she could do. In Santana Lopez, Rivera took a flat character and made her vital by the sheer force of her inarguable charisma. The role that made Rivera famous — and is now her most memorable, period, after her tragic death at just 33 years old — shouldn’t have been half as magnetic as it immediately became with her in it. When first introduced, Santana Lopez was just a bitchy cheerleader — the smirky, sexed-up Latina counterpart for Quinn (Dianna Agron), the show’s blonde heroine teetering atop the pyramid with a delicate smile. To balance out and humanize Quinn, Santana had to be leaner, meaner, and sometimes downright cruel. Rivera accomplished that, fueling Santana with deft comic timing and a palpable fury that pulsed through her every withering insult. Once it became clear that Rivera could take a sharp line and stab someone between the ribs with it before they even noticed, Santana got to deliver some of the show’s most devastating burns and raze the ground where her clueless peers once stood."
• Naya Rivera was the best part of Glee: "It’s one of those pop-culture moments that doesn’t just dazzle, it imprints. It becomes the thing you don’t recall just to be entertained, but to feel," says Kevin Fallon. Naya Rivera’s performance of 'Rumour Has It/Someone Like You' in the third season of Glee was a revelation. We didn’t know that this character, let alone this performer, had that—THAT—in her. That was the point of that episode, too. It might rank among the best the show produced, back in the time when Glee was in that conversation about the best TV had to offer. Here was a character we had been conditioned to judge and dismiss as just a bully. But as Rivera belted and her heart came out her throat, we learned so much more—about her, about Santana on the show, about queer angst, about the struggle for people of color, about asserting your worth. It is in line with the spirit of the show that the entire sentence preceding this reads as absolutely insufferable. It is also in line with the spirit of the show that you not only forgive, but embrace that very thing...and credit Rivera for being the key to honing the tone that let Glee get away with it. And, in doing so, change lives."
• Rivera played Santana Lopez with heart, making her a true villain you can root for: "When I watched Glee as an older teen, I found myself drawn to Rivera’s character Santana Lopez," says Princess Weekes. "She was beautiful, fierce, and had amazing vocals. I’ll always remember her cover of 'Like a Virgin' and thinking about how amazing she sounded. I loved that she was so unapologetic, a true villain at times, yet you could root for her because Naya Rivera played the character with such heart. But the biggest thing for me is that the character of Santana helped me come to terms with my own bisexuality. 'Brittana' (the ship name for Santana/Brittany) is one of the first wlw couples I remember actively rooting for and crying over. I cried with Santana as she confessed her love for Brittany only to be just too late at the time. Santana being outed by Finn was a moment I will never forget, and how it broke me. Even after I stopped watching Glee, I would check Tumblr to make sure she was still thriving—and she was. In the end, Santana and Brittany did end up together. She got to win and live her truth openly with the woman she loved. That meant something to me, and it still touches my heart. That character and the way Naya played her will always mean something so powerful to me. Forever."
• Glee stars pay tribute: "Rest sweet, Naya," tweeted Jane Lynch, "What a force you were. Love and peace to your family"
• Glee cast gathered at Lake Piru this morning, holding hands in honor of Rivera
• Recalling Rivera's Top 10 Glee performances
• Rivera's body was found on the 7-year anniversary of Cory Monteith's death
• From Family Matters to Glee to Devious Maids and Step Up: High Water: Remembering Rivera's life in pictures
• Glee alums Kevin McHale, Chris Colfer, Darren Criss, Becca Tobin, Alex Newell and Jenna Ushkowitz post lengthy tributes to Rivera: "How can you convey all your love and respect for someone in one post?" wrote Colfer. "How can you summarize a decade of friendship and laughter with words alone? If you were friends with Naya Rivera, you simply can’t. Her brilliance and humor were unmatched. Her beauty and talent were otherworldly. She spoke truth to power with poise and fearlessness. She could turn a bad day into a great day with a single remark. She inspired and uplifted people without even trying. Being close to her was both a badge of honor and a suit of armor. Naya was truly one of a kind, and she always will be."
• Demi Lovato, who played Santana's girlfriend on Glee, paid tribute to Rivera's impact on the LGBTQ and Latinx community: "I’ll forever cherish the opportunity to play your girlfriend on Glee," Lovato wrote on Instagram. "The character you played was groundbreaking for tons of closeted queer girls (like me at the time) and open queer girls, and your ambition and accomplishments were inspiring to Latina women all over the world. My heart goes out to your loved ones at this time."
• Countless queer women saw themselves represented by Rivera's lesbian Glee character: Shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Pretty Little Liars, The O.C. and Once and Again depicted lesbian relationships. But, says Martha Sorren, "Santana and Brittany's relationship on Glee felt different, and far more relatable, than those other portrayals. To start, the girls were regular high schoolers — not vampire hunters or, in the case of Pretty Little Liars, teen sleuths being stalked by a psychopathic texter. I could actually see myself in these Glee characters, who dealt with regular problems like friendship troubles and homework while having crushes and falling in love. I'll never forget how much those moments between Santana and Brittany meant to me, from their first kiss (which was also my first time seeing a female same-sex kiss on television) to the time they went to the school dance together to their exchange of I love yous. Thanks to Glee, I started to better understand myself, and realized that my feelings for my own female best friend were deeper than just friendship—just like how Santana's feelings for Brittany developed. And while Rivera's character struggled with some people not accepting who she was, she was able to overcome much of that with the support of Brittany, her other friends, and her own strength."

[MA]

'Glee' actress Naya Rivera 'mustered enough energy' to rescue her son 'but not enough to save herself,' authorities say

https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/13/enter...und/index.html

Naya Rivera is missing no more. But the 'Glee' star's queer legacy will last forever.

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinio...cy-ncna1233696

[Schmo]

She wasn’t wearing a life preserver.

[TMC]

Naya Rivera became an icon in the LGBTQ community with Glee's Santana Lopez

"Naya Rivera is being remembered in headlines as a 'former Glee star,' but to countless queer women like me across the globe, she has been and will always be so much more," says Dorothy Snarker. "Her sudden tragic death, confirmed Monday, has sent a wave of profound sadness across what was once a vibrant and vital fandom. And it's a reminder how much it means when the people who portray LGBTQ characters become fierce advocates for that very same community. Rivera's Glee character, Santana Lopez, was always written to be devastating — the smoking hot cheerleader with the razor-sharp wit and bitch-with-pom-poms attitude. But over the course of the show's six seasons, she became a beacon to lesbian, bisexual and questioning fans, especially young Latinx and Black fans, many of whom were seeing themselves onscreen for the first time. Now her death devastates us all over again. Her character's evolution on the show was also proof of the power of fandom in the early days of social media. In fact, she may have never become such a queer icon without it. Make no mistake, us fans willed the onscreen relationship into existence between Rivera's Santana and her best friend and fellow cheerleader Brittany S. Pierce (played by Heather Morris)." Snarker adds: "In the Brittana story and fandom, queer viewers found not only a voice but also power. Those in the LGBTQ community have long been accustomed to table scraps when it comes to representation in mainstream stories. Yes, things have gotten progressively better over the years and a character revealing her, his or their sexuality is no longer the stuff of Very Special Episodes. But through Twitter and other social media, we found a concrete way to petition for what we'd wanted all along — fully realized relationships between two out female characters who were (in the parlance of fandom) endgame. While straight couples have countless romantic pairings to choose from onscreen, queer women were still waiting for their happily ever afters. The onscreen pair eventually married in a joint wedding with the show's queer male couple, Kurt and Blaine, in the final season."

ALSO:

• Naya Rivera as Santana Lopez gave a generation of queer people a role model: "That sounds so serious and stodgy — 'a role model for a generation' — for a character whose lines in any given episode included from one to 27 instances of her verbally dressing down any person who dared get in her way or under her skin," says Madison Malone Kircher. "But that’s why she mattered so much. She was human. She f*cked up. She was just as much gay icon when she was in the closet as she was when she was out of it. She made it okay to know that you were queer but also know that you were frustrated and scared and angry and, sometimes, hopeful about being queer. She loved deeply and openly and grew, all of which is a testament to the gentle care and energy Rivera put into playing her. She existed on mainstream television in a time where looking for queer women on television yielded incredibly limited results. That was more than enough. She was, well, like never before."
• Rivera's Santana Lopez helped change queer TV history: "I don't use the word 'legacy' lightly," says Dana Piccoli. "But Rivera and her beloved Glee character, Santana Lopez, helped change queer television history. She paved the way for the Waverly Earps and Elena Alverezes of the world. Santana danced and sang through her pain, her confusion and, ultimately, her joy, and as she did, so did we." Piccoli adds: "Rivera's role remained an integral part of the Glee story, and Santana's on-again, off-again relationship with Brittany was the heart of the series for many fans. Many queer people felt seen in a way they never had before. As documented on social media, people inspired by the Brittana love story came out. They talked to their parents. They fell in love. They found families. They found courage. There was even a convention dedicated to Santana and Brittany."
• It was important to see a queer person of color on TV: "Glee has been off the air for five years already. Since the May 2015 finale, I hadn’t spent much time thinking about the series beyond going down a YouTube rabbit hole of performances every so often," says Patrick Gomez. "So it surprised me how much Rivera’s disappearance and now death hit me. But in writing this piece, it became clear to me how much I needed to see a character like Santana growing up. I was long out of Glee’s target demo even before it premiered, but watching a queer person of color blossom as Santana did over six seasons was cathartic. Just 10 years since its premiere, I’m happy to see the number of diverse queer characters has exploded—but I’ll always be grateful for Santana, and in turn, Rivera. To paraphrase the show’s fast-talking narrator, that’s what I’ll miss from Glee."
• Rivera's Step Up: High Water co-stars pay tribute: "Never judge a book by its cover," says Lauryn Alisa McClain, who appeared on the first season of the then-YouTube series. "When I looked at Naya, I saw her spirit. She had one of the most innocent, purest spirits that I have ever come across to this day. She was so sweet. It’s very easy to judge someone. She was definitely a bright light for me when I was in a dark place. She made things better when she was around."
• Rivera performing "Landslide" was Glee at its best

Dianna Agron pays tribute to Naya Rivera, "my first friend and ally" on Glee

"Naya and I fell into stride with such ease, she was my first friend and ally on our show," Agron wrote in a lengthy tribute on Instagram. "In the pilot, our characters came and went with such swiftness. Our enthusiasm brimmed with all of the unknown. We tried to grasp what the other cast members must be feeling as we were working in such separate manners. We dared to dream. What if this show worked? Wouldn’t that be something? Something was brimming, it was palpable. And thank god it worked. Naya’s magnetic talent was going to be unleashed, we just didn’t know it yet. ⁣⁣I’ve been revisiting Naya’s performances on our show and it has brought me great joy. To work with her was a gift. There was a great deal to absorb - her work ethic, her fearlessness, her talent - supreme. Naya had a laugh that would envelop you and hold you captive. She was mesmerizing. That twinkle in her eye, her luminous smile. Naya lead with truth, humor, wit. I loved her for all of these reasons."

ALSO:

• Glee creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan remember Naya Rivera, announce plans for a college fund for her 4-year-old son: “Naya wasn’t a series regular when we cast her on Glee," the co-creators . "She didn’t have more than a few lines in the pilot. But it didn’t take more than an episode or two for us to realize that we had lucked into finding one of the most talented, special stars we would ever have the pleasure of working with. Naya could act, she could dance, and she could sing (could she ever sing!) She could nail a joke as well as she could crush you with an emotional scene. She could move between being scary tough and deeply vulnerable with ease. She was a joy to write for, a joy to direct and a joy to be around." They added: "Naya was a real pro. Always on time, always knew her lines (which wasn’t easy considering the giant mouthfuls of dialogue we often gave her), always kept everyone laughing on the set. She was warm and caring and fiercely protective of the rest of the cast. She was tough and demanding. She was fun. She was kind. She was generous. There were ups and downs during the wonderful and stressful years we spent making Glee. We disagreed, we fought, we made up, then we fought some more, than we made up again. The kinds of things that happen in a family. Naya was more than just an actor on our show- she was our friend."
• Kevin McHale thinks the late Cory Monteith helped find Naya Rivera's body: "These 2, in many ways, were the male and female versions of one another," he tweeted. "So nice, cared deeply, were stupidly talented, the most fun, and really really good people." McHale -- who says he last spoke to Rivera two days before her disappearance -- also recalled learning of Monteith's death while with Rivera in London.
• Amber Riley calls Rivera "my favorite duet partner": "I love you. I miss you," she wrote on Instagram. "I don’t have words right now, just lots of feelings. Rest In Peace Angel, and know that your family will never have to worry about anything."
• Read more tributes from Gwyneth Paltrow, Matthew Morrison, Melissa Benoist, Pose co-creator Steven Canals, Mandy Moore and Kristin Chenoweth

Autopsy confirms Naya Rivera died from accidental drowning

The Ventura County Medical Examiner said in a statement this afternoon there was no indication that drugs or alcohol played any role in the former Glee star's death. There were also no signs of traumatic injury or disease that might have contributed to the drowning. ALSO: Rivera's family isues a statement: "Heaven gained our sassy angel."

[MA]

Lea Michele Pays Tribute to Late Glee Costars Naya Rivera and Cory Monteith

https://people.com/tv/lea-michele-pa...cory-monteith/

What Naya Rivera’s Glee ‘Songbird’ Performance Meant

https://www.vulture.com/2020/07/naya...-songbird.html

[MRPITT]

R.I.P.

[TMC]

Heather Morris pays emotional tribute to Glee co-star Naya Rivera: "I cherish every moment we had"

Morris and Rivera, who were born three weeks apart, formed a close bond playing Glee's queer icons Brittany Pierce and Santana Lopez, aka "Brittana." In an Instagram tribute featuring photos of their kids playing together, Morris remembered her "consistent and loving friend." "We started out as the closest friends and then like all new things, we went through a bit of a rocky phase," Morris wrote. "However, we stuck by each other’s side and created the most beautiful friendship built out of love and understanding. The last I had the chance to see you in person, I had left oranges outside our home for you to take. I wanted to say hi through the window but my phone didn’t ring when you called (which it never does, f***ing T-Mobile), so instead you and Josey left two succulents on our doorstep as a thank you. I planted those succulents and I look at them everyday and think of you. I still listen to your EP on repeat because from the moment I heard it, it struck me and I always wished the world knew more of your voice. You sent me over 5 dozen SnapChat videos when you and Josey woke up in the morning and I kick myself that I didn’t save one of them. You always shared recipes and I admired your love for food. We vowed to spend every Easter together, even though Covid stole this last one from us. You are and always will be the strongest and most resilient human being I know, and I vowed to carry that with me as I continue to live my life. You constantly taught me lessons about grief, about beauty and poise, about being strong, resilient and about not giving a **** (but still somehow respectful ). Yet, the utmost important lesson I learned most of all from you was being a consistent and loving friend. You were the first to check in, the first to ask questions, the first to listen..you cherished our friendship and I never took that for granted. We never took photos together because we mutually hated taking pictures...our relationship meant more than proof. I have countless pictures of our babies playing, because we shared that kind of pride and joy. So I’m showing the world a photo of our little goof balls for you, because I know that meant more than anything and they remind me of you and I. I speak to you everyday because I know you’re still with me and even though I’m feeling greedy that we don’t get more time together, I cherish every moment we had and hold it close to my heart." ALSO: Cory Monteith's mother pays tribute to Naya Rivera: "Cory truly adored you."