Ryan Dorsey Discusses Parenting Naya Rivera’s Son as a Single Father

Glee actor Naya Rivera’s former spouse, Ryan Dorsey, is sharing his experience of raising their son solo nearly five years after Rivera’s passing.

Rivera tragically passed away in July 2020 while on a boat trip with their son, Josey, who was just 4 years old at the time.

Reports indicate that Rivera and nine-year-old Josey had rented a boat and were enjoying Lake Piru in California. They jumped into the water to swim when the boat began drifting away from them.

Rivera was able to get Josey back aboard the boat before she unfortunately drowned. She was only 33.

Presently, Dorsey, 41, is dedicated to preserving Rivera’s memory.

In an interview with People published on February 12, Dorsey disclosed the last words Rivera spoke to Josey shortly before her passing.

Dorsey noted that it took some time for Josey to relay this to him, but eventually, Josey shared that he and Rivera hopped in the water, and when he questioned if they were sure about it, Rivera reassured him, “Yeah.” Josey recalled saying, “Oh, my God, are we going to die?” and Rivera replied, “Don’t be silly.” Josey continued, “Then we jumped in, and that’s what happened.”

Dorsey elaborated that since the boat wasn’t anchored, it started to drift away.

Rivera instructed Josey to return to the boat, which he did. Dorsey expressed, “I still can’t comprehend how he managed to get back on and she couldn’t,” he told People.

With time, Dorsey shared that Josey has begun to remember more from that tragic day.

“He mentioned that the last thing she said was his name, and then she submerged, and he couldn’t see her again,” a visibly emotional Dorsey recounted to People. “It devastates me knowing he witnessed her final moments.”

Dorsey reflected on the moment he received the call from Rivera’s mother’s husband notifying him that Rivera was missing.

“My immediate response was, ‘What do you mean? She knows how to swim,’” Dorsey recounted. “He explained, ‘They jumped in, and Josey got back on while they were trying to locate Naya.’ I crumpled to the floor, surrounded by drinks. My mind raced, but I feared the worst.”

He was approximately 145 miles away from Lake Piru, as reported by People.

“I drove at over 100 miles per hour, with my hazard lights on, chain-smoking cigarettes — something I rarely do — while just crying. All I wanted was to reach Josey.”

Dorsey acknowledged that due to what Josey has endured, he raises his son “differently than I would for a typical child, given his experiences.”

“To me, it’s not an issue if he hears inappropriate language or sees violence on television. I’m not sure if that’s the right approach, but it’s the reality we are facing,” he explained. “I’ve usually declined opportunities to discuss my life like this because it’s just too painful. Looking at her pictures is still incredibly challenging for me, but I feel ready to share. There’s so much that has transpired.”

Dorsey also mentioned that Josey continues to struggle with feelings of guilt over not being able to assist his mother, a sentiment Dorsey shares.

“He frequently says he was searching for a life raft, and there was a rope, but he was too frightened to throw it because of a large spider on it,” Dorsey recounted to People. “I always reassure him, ‘Buddy, that rope wouldn’t have reached.’”

Dorsey, who still finds it difficult to view photos of Rivera, confessed he often thinks about whether the outcome would have differed had he been present on the boat that day.