Actress and Singer Naya Rivera Dies at Age 33

    Sara Roncero-Menendez

    Actress Naya Rivera has been found dead after going missing at Lake Piru in California on Wednesday, July 8. Today, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office held a press conference where they announced that they had located Rivera’s body.

    Rivera had taken her four-year-old son to the lake to rent a pontoon and spend the day on the water. When the boat failed to return, authorities located the rental with Rivera’s son asleep inside. Rivera was nowhere to be found, and shortly after a search began. Authorities have confirmed that she drowned, and it has been ruled as an accident. They believe that Rivera and her son were caught in a current while swimming near the boat, and Rivera was able to rescue her son but was unable to get back in the boat herself.

    Rivera was best known for her role as the cheerleader Santana Lopez on Fox’s show Glee, as well as a popular M&Ms commercial. She starred in her first feature film in 2014, At the Devil’s Door, and had recurring roles on Devious Maids and the soon to be produced Step Up: High Water. She also wrote a memoir entitled Sorry Not Sorry: Dreams, Mistakes, and Growing Up. 

    Fans around the world are sharing their favorite vocal performances from Rivera’s run on Glee, as well as photos of her and her son. Many are honoring her for her support of the LGBTQ community and her positive and progressive representation of Latinx women on television. 

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    My sweet Naya – to say that I am devastated would be an understatement. This is a nightmare. Everyday gets harder. However, I am holding onto hope that you will be found. ⁣ ⁣ We grew up together. We became adults together. We experienced so many firsts together. You were my first experience with everything; love, intimacy, heartbreak. We broke each others hearts and then mended them back together…more than once. I will never not think of you. No woman has ever measured up what you gave me or how you made me feel. I’ve never liked to admit it but I have never stopped loving you. A part of me always wished for the day where God would bring us back together to be what we dreamt we could have been. ⁣ ⁣ I pray deeply for the Rivera family and that God blankets them with strength, peace, and love right now. Mychal and Nickayla – you will always be like younger siblings to me and I love you dearly. I watched you two grow up into beautiful adults. George and Yolanda – whatever you need I am here for you. We are forever family and I love you. ⁣ ⁣ I ask everyone reading this to please lift up, along with the entire Rivera family, Ryan and Josey in prayer and to respect what they are going through during this time. I pray that God showers the entire family with strength and peace that only He can give. ⁣ ⁣ I still have faith. I still have hope. Let’s please all pray that she is found and brought home safely. ⁣ ⁣ Naya, I miss you deeply. I wish I got the chance to tell you that once more but I’m believing I will get that chance. I know deep down you’ve always known how I felt. I look forward to the day where I can see your beautiful face once more and tell you everything I’ve wanted to say that I didn’t get the chance to say. I love you forever. I always have and I always will. ⁣ ⁣ ♥️

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    Sara Roncero-Menendez
    A reporter by trade, Sara is a lover of horror, sci-fi, and all things pop culture. From indies to classics to even the strangest schlock, all movies and TV shows are fair game. She believes Batman is the most fascinating superhero, and that Silent Hill is one of the best horror franchises ever made (as long as you don't count the movies). Fun Fact: The only movie Sara will not rewatch is The Room -- once was more than enough.