Naya Rivera's ex-husband Ryan Dorsey has spoken about their son Josey in a new interview where he admitted that he and the late actress were planning on having another child. Actress Naya - remembered for her acclaimed role as Santana Lopez on Fox's Glee - tragically died, aged 33, in 2020 while on a boating trip with her son Josey, now nine. It was later ruled that her death was the result of accidental drowning.
Josey's father Ryan, 41, has spoken about the incident ahead of the fifth anniversary of her death in July, telling People magazine that his son has recalled more details over time. It's said that after getting into the water, Naya noticed the rented boat drifting and told Josey to swim back to it. He eventually ended up back on the boat whilst Naya was still in the water. Ryan said: "[Josey] said that the last thing she said was his name, and then she went under, and he didn't see her anymore." He added: "It just rocks my world that he had to witness her last moments.".
Discussing life without her, Ryan - who was married to Naya from 2014 to 2018 - said Josey has a "book of memories" and has seen clips of his late mother on TV. He added in the interview that his son has also seen Naya in Glee: The 3D Concert Movie (2011) after having wanted to watch it. Ryan also revealed that he wished Naya and him could have had more children. Speaking to People, he said: "I wish it would've worked out. I wish we could have worked everything out, had a few kids, lived happily ever after. But that's not the way life works for everybody.".
Following their divorce, Ryan admitted that the pair were planning to have a fresh start. “We were going to try to have another baby and all the things. We went to Maui to look at places and get a fresh start, and then we fell out again...If I knew what I know now, I would’ve tried to do things differently to make it work.”. It comes ahead of the fifth anniversary of Naya's death later this year. She had been reported missing in July 2020 after Josey, then four, was found alone on a boat that had been rented by the actor hours earlier on Lake Piru in Ventura County, California. A search effort was launched following the news and days later it was announced that she had been found.
The news of Naya's death prompted an outpouring of tributes from former colleagues and fans alike. Cast members from Glee have since fundraised in her honour for Alexandria House, which had been supported by the late actor during her career, and her previously unreleased song Prayer For The Broken was posthumously released in 2023. Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads.
