Ryan Dorsey Shares Emotional Tribute for Naya Rivera's 35th Birthday: "I Hope It Gets Easier As Time Goes By"

Ryan Dorsey remembers Naya Rivera on what would’ve been her 35th birthday.  Ryan and Naya were married from 2014 to 2018 and share their now 6-year-old son, Josey.  Naya, who’s known for playing Santana Lopez on Glee, passed away at the age of 33 in July of 2020 following a drowning incident.

 

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A post shared by Naya Rivera (@nayarivera)

Ryan posted a heartfelt tribute on Instagram which reads:

“Made the visit today to see you, to spend some time. Up the hill I went, memories flashing through my mind as I drive…The end is inevitable for all of our lives, passing other people doing the same, I see some wiping tears out of their eyes… Approaching where you rest, bouquet of daisies and baby breath.  Trying to hold it together, feeling all I feel, eyes getting wet still can’t believe it’s real… Step by step walking by each marker it’s all so surreal, Getting closer gritting my teeth trying to keep it together…
I look up in the sky and notice the weather… I suppose trying to distract my mind but reality comes back quick nobody knows…why. Why you had to leave us behind… I hope it gets easier as time goes by, but forever is forever, and I’ll never know why.  You would’ve been XXXV.  Able to finally look at a couple videos today, I guess you can say I’m doing better…but better is just a better word for forever sad, this s**t is unbelievable forever.”

 

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A post shared by Ryan Dorsey (@dorseyryan)

Remembering Naya on her 35th birthday,  in an interview with PEOPLE, Ryan shares, “She knew how willing Josey was to share his things, but she’d be so proud to see how he’ll give things he loves away to friends or donate them.  He has this unique literal laugh-out-LOUD cackle of laugh when he’s watching TV that’s kind of obnoxiously endearing like hers was, but his even more so. No matter your mood, it would make anyone smile if you heard it.”

 

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A post shared by Naya Rivera (@nayarivera)

Ryan continues, “At least once a day I find myself shaking my head, like it’s still unbelievable, so surreal that she’s gone. She’d be freaking out today, I could almost hear her: ‘OMG, I’m almost 40!’ It’s hard to write this, tears coming out my eyes. Unf—ing real.”

RIP Naya Rivera