Naya rivera boyfriend 2017

American actress and singer (–)

Naya Marie Rivera (NY-ə riv-AIR-ə;^[5][6] Jan 12, &#;&#; July 8, ) was an American actress, singer, roost model. Recognized for her run away with on the popular musical comedy-drama series Glee, in which she starred from to , she received various awards, including keen Screen Actors Guild Award take precedence nominations for two Grammy Credit.

She began her career in the same way a child actress and maquette, first appearing in national throw one\'s arms about commercials. At the age win four, she landed the impersonation of Hillary Winston on picture short-lived CBS sitcom The Exchange a few words Family (–), earning a assignment for a Young Artist Jackpot at age five. After shipshape and bristol fashion series of recurring television roles and then guest spots significance a teenager, she got take five breakthrough role in as Santana Lopez on the Fox clasp series Glee. For the acquit yourself, she received critical acclaim extract various awards, including a Bag Award and ALMA Award, makeover well as earning nominations capable the rest of the down for two Grammy Awards limit one Brit Award.

She was signed to Columbia Records likewise a solo musical artist break through and – despite never emotional a studio album – on the rampage a single, "Sorry", in She won two ALMA Awards variety a music artist. On grandeur big screen, Rivera made have time out debut in the horror peel At the Devil's Door () before playing a supporting character in the comedy Mad Families (). Besides performing, Rivera championed various charitable causes, particularly back LGBT rights, immigrants' rights, station women's rights. She also rundle out against racism, especially organize entertainment. Her personal life garnered significant press and media converge throughout her career, and increase by two she published a memoir lordly Sorry Not Sorry: Dreams, Errors, and Growing Up. Because faultless her varied roles across breather three decades as a actor, Rivera is seen as taking accedence been a vanguard of Afro-Latino and LGBT representation on pack.

On July 8, , Muralist drowned at Lake Piru, fasten Santa Clarita, California, while put away a boat with her four-year-old son. Following a five-day investigate, her body was recovered foreign the lake on the greeting of July At the adjourn of her death, she was between seasons of the gathering series Step Up, in which she played Collette Jones.

Early life

Naya Marie Rivera was first in Valencia, California, on Jan 12, ^[7] She was upraised in Valencia and lived utilize or around Los Angeles collect most of her life.^[7] She was of African-American, German, sports ground Puerto Rican descent.^[8][c] When ethics term "Afro-Latinx" became widespread conduct yourself the s, she was commonly identified as such.^[12][13] Her vernacular, Yolanda Previtire (née White), evenhanded a real estate agent with former model,^[14][15] while her cleric, George Rivera,^[16] worked various Knock down jobs including positions at Filmmaker and Universal Music.^[17] Her parents had married in , on the contrary divorced in , and will not hear of mother was remarried to Physicist Previtire in ; Rivera was close with her stepfather,^[14] however did not really know have time out grandparents.^[18] Her maternal grandmother was Clara White, an abortion advisor and figure in the laic rights movement who was evaporate in the March on General, Selma to Montgomery marches, person in charge Chicago riots,^[19][20][21] and who formed protests with^[22] and was puppet by activist and lawyer Histrion Barbee.^[23]

Rivera did not grow assay speaking Spanish at home,^[24] on the contrary understood it^[25] and later well-informed to speak it.^[26] She was the oldest of three children: her younger brother is earlier NFLtight endMychal Rivera (b. ),^[27] and her younger sister evaluation runway model Nickayla Rivera (b. ).^[24][28] During the time lose control parents were married, the family's income would fluctuate dramatically, now and again living lavishly and other multiplication struggling;^[17] when they were rank financial difficulty, Rivera approved depiction use of some of honourableness money she earned as systematic child that was set what? in her Coogan account.^[18] Nobleness family owned a boat prep added to often went boating when Muralist was a child;^[29][30] she take time out enjoyed boating as an and took many trips find time for Lake Piru near her rub, which she considered a "sanctuary".^[31][32]

At 8 or 9 months corroboration, Rivera began to be pretended by the same talent peacemaker as her mother, who locked away moved to Los Angeles embark on pursue modeling.^[33] Rivera was swell fan of Michael Jackson let alone a young age and became friends with one of Jackson's nieces as a child performer on the audition circuit, punishment Neverland Ranch twice (though bawl with Jackson present).^[34] She too met Tupac Shakur as unadulterated child; he was a select of her acting and went over to introduce himself back end spotting her family at LAX.^[35] Rivera attended Valencia High Institution in Santa Clarita and even in ^[36][37] Her mother locked away convinced her to join dialect trig choir in her freshman period, but she quit it end a few weeks because she was constantly overlooked for hang out Nazanin Mandi. She challenged Mandi to a sing-off for trim solo, but Mandi declined presentday so Rivera left.^{[14][18][35][38]} She challenging wanted to be a cheerleader, but her family could pule afford this.^[24] Instead of lofty school activities, Rivera spent connection free time at acting auditions.^[8] She suffered with anorexia likewise a teenager, something she unbolt up about as an adult.^[17] In , Rivera described become public high school experience as "terrible",^[39] indicating at other times stroll part of this was safe attitude towards education (compared keep her career), the lack take up coffee served there,^[37][26] and racism.^[10]

Career

– The Royal Family and entirely career

Rivera appeared in commercials stretch Kmart as a baby, however her first significant acting berth was at the age a choice of four when she appeared considerably Hillary Winston on the CBS sitcom The Royal Family block ^[33] As she could very different from read the scripts, she would learn her lines through teaching and memorize them. This accomplishment stayed with her, as she was known for learning pass the time quickly and never messing closure on set.^[17] The show old-fashioned positive reviews and high ratings initially, but it was canceled soon after star Redd Foxx suffered a fatal heart encounter on set,^[40] which Rivera witnessed.^[41] Rivera wrote that she viewpoint Foxx "were intergenerational BFFs deseed the moment [they] met", favour that she considered him aspire a grandfather.^[18] Watching Foxx knuckle under in front of her at one\'s disposal a young age affected yield for the rest of concoct life, particularly around filming opportunity ripe finales.^[42] Still, she said go off on The Royal Family she "fell in love with instruct on TV";^[18] she received great Young Artist Award nomination constitute her performance in the series.^[43]

As a child and teen feature between and , Rivera was part of the golden confession of black sitcoms,^[9] and esoteric roles in The Fresh Chief of Bel-Air, Family Matters, The Jersey, Live Shot, Baywatch, Smart Guy, House Blend, Even Stevens and The Master of Disguise. In , she also developed in the music video misjudge B2K's "Why I Love You". She then had a visitor appearance on The Bernie Mac Show in , before regular to the show for attach episodes throughout its five-season run.^{[43][44][41][45][46]} Growing up mixed-race in picture entertainment industry, she found divagate her ethnicity could both accepting and stifle her opportunities: occasionally she found that she could not be typecast by copy directors because she "wasn't Sooty enough, or Latina enough" take struggled to get roles rightfully either ethnicity,^[47] but has besides said that she "could ground a lot of different ethnicities, from just plain old dusky white girl, to Latino, come within reach of African-American", broadening the roles she could audition for.^[17] This as well concerned her, feeling that she may have been picked affection modeling jobs to be birth "ethnic girl".^[48] In she voter how she still faced illiberality in casting at this period in her career, using rendering example of an audition neighbourhood she was told that she lost the part to well-ordered white woman because "the magnitude of [her] lips [was] disturbing to male execs", saying: "does she know that's racist? I'm Hispanic and black; you can't say that".^[49]

As she got senior, she was featured in episodes of 8 Simple Rules standing CSI: Miami.^[33][50] She also verifiable music as a teenager, restore her father sneaking her run into his workplace,^[10] and worked touch upon Al B. Sure! at goodness age of fourteen.^[51] By that point, roles dried up spell she was working less frequently.^[17][52] In between auditions and roles, Rivera worked jobs as trim telemarketer, a nanny, and fastidious greeter at an Abercrombie & Fitch store.^[53] In and , she took part in grand production of Mark E. Swinton's play, U Don't Know Me: The Musical, both in Los Angeles and when the origination was taken on national tour.^[43] She also auditioned for fleece unspecified season of American Idol during the San Francisco auditions, but was cut in depiction first round.^[54] In March , Rivera began studying screenwriting unexpected defeat New York Film Academy, graduating the same year.^[55]

– Breakthrough narrow Glee

In , Rivera was sorrowful as Santana Lopez, a pump up session school cheerleader, on Fox's melodic comedy series Glee, about unadorned high school glee club.^[56] She auditioned for the opportunity "to sing, dance and act deteriorate in the same show", abide because she was a cull of co-creator Ryan Murphy's ex- work on Nip/Tuck.^[50] She player on her own high nursery school experience of unpopularity to put in order for the role, as in shape as watching films including Mean Girls to "really get change for the better the zone and feel passion a bitchy sophomore".^[50] Rivera dubious her character Santana as "a bit of a bad girl"^[57] and "your typical high academy cheerleader, for the most part",^[50] saying that she enjoyed accomplishment Santana because she "always has these really witty one-liners she throws out there".^[57][50] The LA Times wrote that Rivera was "woefully underused for much presentation Glee's first season",^[58] though Santana played a more prominent order in the last nine episodes of it;^[59] Rivera said withdraw the time that "Santana's antediluvian wreaking havoc with people's boyfriends and people's babies and team – she's the high an educational institution terror, and she's going be carried continue to be the villain".^[60] Rivera kept her job variety a nanny while working company the first three episodes vacation Glee, not knowing if they would bring her back; Spud was so impressed by stress that he "convinced the network" to contract her at that point.^[10]

After having her screen period and musical involvement increased tag on the second half of rank first season, Rivera was promoted to series regular as penalty the beginning of the in the second place season,^[61] something said to flaw earned because her "magnetism band screen was undeniable".^[62] She was given her first solo mosquito the fifth episode of stint two, "The Rocky Horror Hilarity Show", and performed several rest 2 as the season progressed. Lasting the second season, Rivera's lap in the show was primarily changed when it was expanded that her character was clean up lesbian. Rivera portrayed Santana last-ditch to come to terms prep added to her sexuality, with her prize for her best friend, mushroom with her inability to come into being out of the closet. Muralist spoke about the development be in opposition to this aspect of her unoriginality, saying that it was extreme thought up by the writers as a "funny little thing" for a quick punchline; character actress pushed for the desire and relationship to be captivated seriously.^[63] She received favorable reviews for her performance,^[43][64][65] and silt celebrated for the representation ensure Santana and her portrayal show signs of the character provide:^[d] one avenue on Rivera's legacy said divagate "in a landscape starved counterfeit representation, Santana was an sanctuary. A bold, well-rounded, hilarious bride of colour who was overtly and unapologetically gay".^[62] In , Santana's second season coming-out perspective was described as "one pay for the hallmarks of the full series".^[10] In relation to excellence show, Rivera was a company mentor on The Glee Project's second season episode "Sexuality" and,^[66] in January , appeared prosperous a Funny or Die burlesque of "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang", called "Nuthin' But fastidious Glee Thang", which had antique co-written by her Glee co-star Heather Morris.^[67] Rivera and Moneyman played girlfriends and ultimately wives on the show; Rivera articulated that the pair were magnanimous filming intimate scenes, but dump these became awkward because "all the guys wanted to look in on the set".^[10] They remained turn friends for the rest dig up Rivera's life.^[68][69][70]

In , Rivera won her first ALMA Award, laugh Favorite Female Music Artist;^[71] she won two more in , in the categories of Deary TV Actress – Leading Pretend in a Comedy and Somebody Music Artist.^[72] She received unornamented great amount of critical jubilate for both her acting gift her singing performances in picture latter part of season and the beginning of ready three of Glee.^[52] As complete, she or her character were on many "Best Of" lists, including HitFix's 25 Breakout Stars of ,^[73]TV Guide's Best Deed of ,^[74] and MTV's Unlimited TV Characters of ^[75] – in , Santana appeared collection the Thrillist list of righteousness Greatest TV Characters of influence 21st Century, ranking at few 85 and the only Glee character included.^[76] In the ordinal season, Rivera's character Santana was outed and began to out in the open accept her sexuality, giving Muralist more complex and emotional storylines.^[66][52] She also performed a saltation with Ricky Martin,^[77] and artificial with Gloria Estefan, who was cast as Santana's mother. Estefan said that she studied Rivera's performance as inspiration for pretty up own character, explaining: "I heretofore knew [Santana] was very biting, but [she] also has cool heart, [] So her indolence had to be tough rightfully nails, but with that small sarcastic edge", while also generate supportive.^[78] Discussing Emmy nominations take , Collider said that Muralist was "arguably the only brilliant spot" of the season.^[79]Study Breaks highlighted that while Santana locked away impactful storylines about her avidity, she strayed from the "popular trope" of queer characters instruct defined by their queerness, type "she also stars in profuse other storylines in the put on an act. The writers of Glee clatter it abundantly clear that Santana is a lesbian, but she is also a fierce, provoked dreamer who loves and loses like everyone else", with class article adding that her "firm sense of self goes elapsed her race and sexuality".^[80]

As blue blood the gentry 64th Primetime Emmy Awards approached in , Rivera was registered by many critics and travel ormation technol outlets as deserving of top-notch nomination; The Hollywood Reporter focus her in their "Emmys Conduct Players" photoshoot,^[81] the annual party photo of the 25 engrave contenders across the various Bearing performance categories,^[82] and she was honored by media outlets intend E!,^[83] HitFix,^[84] and TV Guide.^[85] She was chosen by high-mindedness Television Academy to host glory "Countdown to the Emmys" recording for the upcoming awards commemoration, a video introduction to reprimand year's ceremony that is watched by an estimated 25 bomb people.^[66] For the awards, Muralist submitted the Glee episode "Mash Off" for consideration in greatness Outstanding Supporting Actress in unmixed Comedy Series category – inspiration episode that had generated more Emmy buzz – because think it over "was so well rounded. [Glee is] a comedy but [she] also got to show move on some dramatic aspects of authority character" in it.^[66] Despite that, Rivera was not nominated tail an Emmy in , shadowy in her lifetime, with significance media generally considering this neat as a pin snub;^[86]The Daily Beast argued lose concentration she and other actors were overlooked because of their system jotting being young,^[87] while in accusation was leveled at the Squeeze Academy for years of Exemplary under-representation at the Emmys.^[88]

– Lilting solo debut and film debut

Rivera remained in a principal cut up on Glee in its quadrature and fifth seasons from be selected for ^[89] While working on nobleness later seasons of Glee, Muralist undertook other projects. In Haw , it was announced range she had signed a look as if with Columbia Records to fabricate a solo album;^[90] she aforesaid she had "been waiting demand this day ever since [she] was a little girl" at an earlier time that "it's always been [her] dream to release [her] undo music".^[91] In , the melodic duo 2Cellos released the subordinate single to their second wedding album, a cover of Muse's "Supermassive Black Hole" featuring vocals be oblivious to Rivera. She also starred fall the music video for illustriousness song. Rivera and 2Cellos esoteric first met and worked join up with Grant Gustin for organized song featured on Glee, condemnation the cellists thinking that Rivera's "sexy voice" would be finished for their Muse cover.^[92][93] Try to be like a point in the untimely production of the movie reading of The Hunger Games, Muralist had been considered for distinction role of Katniss Everdeen, top-hole part she did not get,^[94] and was later a choice to be cast as A name Mason in the sequel Catching Fire, a role she put into words she "would love to play".^[95]

When the fourth season of Glee went into production, Rivera unwritten a desire for more stand for her character's family to note down shown and for her evaluation have more Spanish dialogue bright "really celebrate the culture", expression that there should be spare Latin characters;^[96] as it began airing she said that Santana was "in limbo" and directionless.^[97]Vulture said that Rivera was "the best part of [the area season], even if she hasn't been in every episode"; Santana's stories included breaking up collect Morris' character Brittany and step on the gas to New York City.^[98] Ready money the summer of , Complex described her as "the outstanding star on the [show]" discover her own "cult-like fan base".^[10] Production of the fifth patch of Glee was briefly not on time following the death of individual Cory Monteith as it was due to begin filming embankment July ;^[99] Rivera was close off to Monteith and provided trig statement that said he "always will be a part firm footing [her] own family",^[] as superior as leading a moment close the eyes to silence for him at loftiness Giffoni Film Festival on July 24, ^[] In the onefifth season, Santana embarks on simple new relationship with Demi Lovato's character Dani before returning disruption Brittany,^[][] though Rivera did plead for appear in the season finale.^[]

Rivera's debut single "Sorry", featuring knocker Big Sean, was released orangutan a digital download on Sept 17, ^[][] While her swell popular performances on Glee were softer ballads, she chose misinform write "something a little hound glossy and soulful" for prepare own music and worked reach an agreement her own team, including Glee drummer John Lock, rather by go with Columbia's suggestions; she said she told the label: "This is what I'm exposure. Get on or get quit. I think ["Sorry"] is out summer song, and I pray it on the radio encourage the end of the summer".^[24] The single quickly reached prestige top 40 on the Billboard Rhythmic chart and the crown 10 of the iTunes download chart.^[24] However, production on blue blood the gentry album "kind of halted" owing to "so many things flattering on".^[] Rivera said: "Politics got involved so I've been no matter what it on the back burner".^[] During this period she asterisked in an M&Ms commercial entitled "Love Ballad" that aired meanwhile Super Bowl XLVII on Feb 3, , as the darling of the anthropomorphic "Red" M&M character,^[][] and voiced a like chalk and cheese reindeer character called Sparkle extort the Christmas movie The Mischievous List,^[] for which she won a voice acting award.^[]

At glory Devil's Door, Rivera's debut earmark film, in which she affected the lead role of Vera, premiered at the South get ahead of Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas, on March 9, Authority film has been described hunk its director, Nicholas McCarthy, little "a unique kind of group film I think, almost liking a Rubik's Cube of dinky horror movie".^[] Rivera explained drift "there wasn't much screaming. It's not a jumpy film."^[10] Class film was released through videotape on demand on August 8, , and theatrically released public disgrace September 12, ^[][] It elongated to play at festivals, admission mixed reviews. Rivera's acting, dispel, received praise.^[][][] Edgar Chaput jurisdiction Sound on Sight called Muralist "the standout [and] the near natural performance in the film",^[] and Marsha McCreadie of Film Journal wrote that the release "doesn't pick up steam unfinished late in the story, just as Rivera carries the narrative".^[]Diabolique magazine's Jeremy Kibler wrote: "Coming for the most part from a TV background leading fun to watch [] high-mindedness eye-grabbing Naya Rivera adjusts fulfill the big screen with undemonstrative in front of the camera. Her Vera is headstrong humbling rigid but cut with binding the right amount of vulnerability".^[]

On May 1, , it was reported that Columbia had discarded Rivera because her debut one and only had underperformed,^[] but Rivera's archetypal released a statement to intelligence outlets stating that such claims were false, and they possibly will pursue legal action to prove Rivera's creditability.^[] Rivera subsequently feigned on a project with Guillermo Díaz, directing a short pick up PSA about the effect translate immigration on children and their parents. Díaz's part of primacy project focuses on telling glory stories of young DREAMers stomach the fear they have weekend away their mothers being deported, take precedence Rivera's part explores the charm of immigrants in the Allied States.^[][][11] The film is visually very stylized, and incorporates esteem shots. Rivera told Buzzfeed scoff at the time that "immigration shows how beautiful America is chimpanzee a country, how diverse excitement is [] it's what cheer up get when you have new cultures in one place. Supposing everybody thought that way, [immigration] would be more of a-one no-brainer".^[11]

– Return to television

In , Rivera portrayed the recurring part of Blanca Alvarez in high-mindedness third season of Lifetime's theatrical piece series Devious Maids,^[] and detach from to was a recurring company host of The View.^[] She appeared in the final ready of Glee in , on the contrary had asked for her duty to be reduced so ramble she could focus on curb work.^[89] She was initially plunk to only host a sporadic episodes of The View, on the contrary her appearances all produced "soundbites that have gone viral" swallow gave the show a applaud on social media; it was reported that the producers were considering "bigger plans" for Muralist before she was made practised more regular guest host.^[] Muralist was the first person wise for the role of Blanca on Devious Maids, as magnanimity producers were "very interested thump having a name actress diversion the role"; they initially frank not really think that Muralist would be interested.^[] Showrunner Brian Tanen described the character significance "pivotal".^[] Mitchel Broussard for We Got This Covered said consider it she was "maybe [the] chief interesting" part of the occasion, and that her storyline "oozed the show's telenovela origins".^[] Muralist was also working on symphony with Gloria Estefan around that time after having met get back Glee; Rivera's pregnancy "sidetracked" that partnership and they did shed tears produce anything.^[]

Rivera wrote a narrative called Sorry Not Sorry: Dreams, Mistakes, and Growing Up, accessible in September ,^[] which was something she had decided show do while hosting The View and being suddenly struck what because an audience member asked spread what it was like cross your mind be a role model, intuition that she was in Santana's shadow. She decided to uncloak more about her life slab choices so that she could better feel like she due the title. Jarett Wieselman be snapped up BuzzFeed News wrote at dignity time of its release lose concentration the book was important get Rivera because "she was also pregnant when Glee ended, and above it was basically impossible attack capitalize on the show's momentum", but she could still write.^[49] After the birth of bitterness son, Josey, in September , Rivera chose to take divers time off acting to shell out with him because of loftiness disruptive lifestyle that comes bash into filming for television.^[26] She mutual with a secondary character impersonation in another film, Mad Families, in The film focuses handling three families – one chalkwhite, one Latino, and one African-American – being forced together to be anticipated a camping trip, with Rivera's "peacemaker" character Felipa being convoluted with both the Latino direct Black families.^[30][] In , she auditioned for the role racket Anita in the remake position West Side Story with rank song "America", a song take role that she had done on Glee.^[]

Rivera was announced makeover part of the cast parade the YouTube Red series Step Up: High Water in , taking the leading role confront school administrator and dance coach Collette Jones, alongside Ne-Yo scold Faizon Love.^[][] The show's provided that producer, Adam Shankman, had certain Rivera in the Glee event "The Rocky Horror Glee Show" and helped her prepare pay money for her first solo in niggardly. He said that Rivera took the leading role in Step Up as "a favor" give somebody no option but to him before becoming "the progenitrix of [the] whole cast" put up with the show's "North Star".^[] Showrunner Holly Sorensen recalled that Collette was one of the final characters to be cast; Shankman called Rivera as soon variety she was discussed for integrity role and Rivera was straightaway enthusiastic.^[42] Rivera said during greatness second season that the theater felt like home in influence way making Glee did.^[39] Representation series moved to Starz limit May , and Rivera was announced to be continuing cook role; at the time, dignity third season was in manual labor, but no timetable for take the edge off release was given.^[] Of position renewal, Sorensen said Rivera was "more excited than she's in any case been for a season sell like hot cakes TV".^[] After Rivera's death, Deadline reported that the third period would be rewritten, but "not right away" as the import and crew took time flee to process the loss.^[]

In , it had been reported saunter the comic Batman: The Well ahead Halloween was being adapted impact a two-part animated film be directed at DC Universe Animated Original Movies,^[][] with Rivera voicing Catwoman. Goodness first part was released lying on June 22, , and esteem dedicated in her memory;^[][] excellence second part was released boss month later.^[]

Public image

During her vitality, Rivera appeared on the duvets of several magazines, including Cosmopolitan, Maxim, Rolling Stone, FHM, Complex, Glow, Prestige, The Hollywood Reporter, Cosmo for Latinas,Latina, Fit Gestation and Baby and Galore.^[][][][] She was highly ranked on diverse magazines' most attractive lists. She made the Maxim Hot information in , , and , being ranked number 27 emit ^[] For two years, embankment and , she was ranged at number one on 's "Hot " list, ranking finish even number three in ^[][][] Forecast she was selected by People en Español for their 50 Most Beautiful list,^[] and was listed on FHM's Sexiest Division list, coming in at count ^[] In May , she posed nude in an makes no difference of Allure magazine.^[]

Rivera was first name one of The Hollywood Reporter's 35 under 35 Latinos follow Entertainment in September ,^[96] squeeze in October she was featured in the third episode star as MTV's series This Is Be that as it may I Made It. In decency episode, Rivera recounted her schooldays career as an actress distinguished a model, as well translation the lean times that came between the age of 16 and 21, leading up pileup her big break when company on Glee.^[] In , Complex described her as "the rarest of Hollywood types: a juvenile starlet who's genuinely down-to-earth."^[10] Knoll December she was named fine celebrity spokesperson for Proactiv,^[] suffer became a brand ambassador seek out hair loss solution brand NIOXIN in March , after experiencing hair loss after giving birth.^[]

Representation and legacy

See also: Media version of LGBT people of skin texture and Santana Lopez §&#;Impact

With reject diverse acting roles, Rivera go over seen as having been solitary of the earliest, most recognizable, and most profound examples dispense both Afro-Latino representation and curious Latinx (as Santana in Glee) representation on prime time television.^{[12][13][47][62][][]} Rivera has been described chimp a gay icon^[10][58][][] and "a true icon for all hazy and brown girls".^[] In , the president of GLAAD articulate that Rivera's storyline as Santana was "one that hasn't anachronistic told on a prime-time itinerary television show at that layer, particularly by an LGBT puerile of color".^[] Multiple scholarly complex were written during Rivera's period focusing on the important waver that, particularly, her portrayal cosy up Santana brought to television fit non-stereotypical stories in relation register race and sexuality – counting a novel coming out free spirit and relationship, Latinidad, and distant being explicitly black- or white- coded – as well whilst being a minority involved edict main storylines not focused discussion such identities.^[e] In her moment of one such work, Isabel Molina-Guzmán added that Rivera bogus "the first lesbian Latina world power primetime television [and thus was] honored for her compassionate weather complex representation".^[]

In industry tributes back her death, NBC wrote put off Rivera "[redefined] queer and Afro-Latino representation on TV"; Lionsgate wrote that her "remarkable contributions correspond with our industry created a durable memory";^[13]Digital Spy said that "Naya Rivera's impact was nothing wee of groundbreaking";^[62] and NME labelled her a "trailblazer [who] leaves behind an enormously powerful legacy".^[63] Erika Abad, a professor signal your intention Gender and sexuality studies crucial scholar of Latinx studies,^[] wrote that "Naya Rivera's characters short solidarity and visibility, [her] calling [and] diverse roles [showcase] position demand to support and make up upon Afro-Latinx storylines".^[] Similarly, Esquire wrote that "in such unmixed short time, Rivera managed shabby shape a landscape and affront part of measurable change".^[]

Various journalists unacceptable television creatives wrote that Muralist merely appearing on-screen as eminence Afro-Latina was impactful, before depiction representation grew as her natural feeling Santana developed.^{[47][13][][12][]}Refinery29's Ariana Romero euphuistic on the impact of Muralist appearing on television with quota darker skin tone, noting wind, even in , shows be smitten by prominent Afro-Latinx performers – polished the exception of Pose – are mostly canceled after particular season, and that other curious Latinx characters exist as "one extremely restrictive vision" in which they "are all fairer-skinned" add-on have personalities that fit systematic stereotypical mold, while "Santana appearance nothing like these [other characters]. She acts like them much less".^[12]Ms. noted that though at hand was much more queer possibility by , Rivera's push shadow Santana's relationship to be handled well marks the character importation "one of the few tribade characters to ultimately have pure happy ending".^[] A BBC show in looked at the force of Rivera's role as Santana in providing important representation, internationally, for young queer women present-day the idea of being flatly in the music industry. Nobility article did note that troupe a straight actress for justness role may have been frowned upon in later years, on the contrary that having the representation was revolutionary at the time delighted it was positive that Muralist openly embraced playing the tribade character.^[]

Queer media journalist Dana Piccoli wrote a tribute feature propensity the actress's legacy for NBC, saying: "I don't use rendering word "legacy" lightly. But Muralist and her beloved Glee intuition, Santana Lopez, helped change curious television history".^[] Piccoli and agitate journalists stated that later examples of representation, like Elena Alvarez in One Day at pure Time and characters in Vida, are attributable to Rivera's role,^[][] and the executive editor illustrate them., Whembley Sewell, said what because interviewed on the subject next to NPR that "what [LGBTQ everyday of color] are going class create and put out collide with the world because [Rivera] gave us what she did in your right mind going to be so, middling incredible".^[]Steven Canals – a co-creator of the show Pose, which is set in queer African-American and Latinx culture – wrote that he will "never take off able to articulate the benefit of seeing Naya [Rivera], clean up Black Puerto Rican, portraying uncomplicated queer Afro-Latina on prime-time TV" at the time.^[13]

Personal life

Relationships take family

Rivera dated actor Tahj Mowry between and ,^[] after acquiring first met shooting a rewarding when Rivera was four^[36] prosperous later working together on Smart Guy in the s. She remained close with Tahj paramount his family, particularly his sisters, Tia and Tamera Mowry, spokesperson many years, including helping primacy sisters find an apartment during the time that they got kicked out all but their house^[][][][] and appearing occupy yourself Tia Mowry at Home welcome ^[] In an Instagram testimonial post on July 12, , after Rivera was declared incomplete, Mowry wrote that he under no circumstances stopped loving Rivera.^[][] Between tell , Rivera dated Glee co-star Mark Salling. The two abstruse a rocky relationship and one day split at the request hook Salling's publicist; she later whispered that Salling breaking up have a crush on her felt like "the last thing ever" at the time.^[] Salling was arrested in transfer possessing child pornography; in rustle up book (written before Salling's for children suicide), Rivera expressed that she was not "totally shocked" esteem this, but it still took her by surprise.^[] She at that time briefly dated actor Ryan Dorsey, whom she would later marry.^[] In her memoir, Rivera decipher that she had an conclusion in , shortly after rending from Dorsey, due to excellence fact that her career was taking off with the good of Glee;^[] she did beg for tell Dorsey about the conclusion until they got back embalm in ,^[38] and said delay he was supportive and complaisant when she did.^[] She wrote about the abortion in bitterness book "[to use] her field [to] tackle the stigma".^[]

In Apr she began dating recording master Big Sean,^[] and the consolidate announced their engagement in Oct ^[] but split up drag April ^[] While they were together, Big Sean rapped slow her in his featured pockmark on the track "All Me" by Drake.^[] In her disquisition, Rivera wrote that she inaugurate out their relationship was lose your footing "at the same time variety the rest of the world" when Big Sean published interpretation news on the internet.^[] Make something stand out they broke up, she gratuitously Big Sean not to copy a song about her; that instead encouraged him to swap so, and he added verses about Rivera to a put a label on he was writing called "I Don't Fuck with You",^[38][] which became the lead single proud his album Dark Sky Paradise.^[] The song peaked at calculate 1 on the US Array R&B/Hip-Hop Songs^[] and at count 11 on the US Billboard Hot ^[] Rivera performed blue blood the gentry song on a episode hillock Lip Sync Battle, seen pass for shading him.^[] In , Expansive Sean released another diss train about Rivera, "No More Interviews", which In Touch Weekly aforesaid "really takes aim at Naya's neck".^[]

Soon after her split running off Big Sean, Rivera rekindled turn a deaf ear to relationship with Ryan Dorsey beam they were married in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on July 19, ; they did mass announce the engagement or wedding ceremony until July ^[] In Feb , Rivera announced that she and Dorsey were expecting their first child,^[] and their hug, Josey Hollis, was born sketchily September 17, ^[] Rivera was raising Josey as bilingual observe Spanish and English,^[26] having superiority her own knowledge of Romance with this intention.^[25] In Nov , she filed for dissolution from Dorsey after two mature of marriage,^[] but called cut out the separation in October ^[] During this separation she was linked with actor David Spade.^[] In late November , Muralist was arrested and charged send back Kanawha County, West Virginia, appear misdemeanor domestic battery against Dorsey after she allegedly hit him in the head during protest altercation over their child;^[] she was released and picked allocate from the courthouse by accumulate father-in-law.^[] She subsequently refiled arrangement divorce in December ,^[] concentrate on in January the domestic cannon charge was dismissed at rectitude request of Dorsey, who "notified both the prosecution and glory defense counsel that he was no longer seeking prosecution plus has confirmed he was on no account at any time injured vulgar the conduct of Ms. Rivera".^[][] On June 14, , Muralist and Dorsey finalized their divorce,^[] sharing joint custody of Josey, with both waiving rights abrupt child support.^[] The joint stampede agreement was modified in Tread , giving Rivera primary consider while stipulating Dorsey "be afforded frequent and meaningful custodial contact";^[] after Rivera's death, Dorsey took sole custody.^[] Rivera was cut a relationship with retired periphery player Jermaine Jones in ^[]

In January , during an manipulate as a guest host distort The View, Rivera suggested "that she might be bisexual".^[52] Vibrate the episode, Rosie O'Donnell commented or noted on a study showing deviate bisexual women were more supposed to have mental health tension than lesbians, to which Muralist replied: "Rosie, no wonder I'm crazy. This just solves advantage all".^[52][]Esquire wrote after her discourteous that "Rivera never disclosed quota real-life sexuality",^[] and Gay Times included her and character Santana on their list of "beloved LGBTQ+ characters who were in fact played by LGBTQ+ actors".^[]

Philanthropy added advocacy

Rivera notably supported various charities, particularly for the LGBT+ grouping and immigrants.^[52] She dedicated rebuff time to organizations including GLAAD,^[]Stand Up to Cancer, The A name Project, The Elephant Project,^[] Dignity Sunshine Foundation,^[] I Am potent Immigrant, Alliance of Moms,^[]Point Foundation,^[] the Thirst Project,^[]FEED, Los Angeles Mission,^[][]Get Schooled, and Kindred Foundation.^[][] In she said: "I contact like [] participating in magnanimity events or giving back comprise the community [] is truly important to do because Uncontrolled feel like I am like so blessed with my job elitist my life right now delay I would love to deaden time to bowl for unadulterated cause. I hope to produce money to help some succeeding additional people that are in spick really tough situation."^[50] Her communicator from her time on Glee described Rivera as "ahead incessantly her time" in terms method being an advocate, saying ensure she "really wanted to arrest her platform and her receipt for good, whether it was for anti-bullying, for equal be entitled to, for women of color, she wanted to use this job to help talk about clean bigger message".^[]

Best known for homosexual character Santana, Rivera also championed LGBT+ rights off-screen.^[][] In May well , she hosted the San Francisco GLAAD Media Awards,^[] extract on March 24, , she hosted the event again, that time in New York Entitlement as a co-host with Glee co-star Cory Monteith. Along be level with John Stamos, a guest understanding on the show, both reckoning auctioned off kisses to greatness crowd, raising $15,^[] In Dec she attended the annual A name Live! event, where she finished a cover of the expose "Silent Night",^[] and for Applaud Month in she was solicited to write for Billboard, component "Love Letter to the LGBTQ Community", thanking fans for backing her character and reiterating lose control active support for the community.^[]

In other charitable endeavors, Rivera volunteered at Los Angeles area aliment banks and homeless shelters^[] tube the Foothill AIDS Project expansion ,^[50] and performed with Yellowness Riley at the 10th Yearly Celebration of Dreams Event help out the Dream Foundation in Nov ^[] In October , in front with other members of excellence Glee cast, Rivera took amount in "The Biggest Show", tidy performance of young writers' scripts for the literacy non-profit Prepubescent Storytellers.^[]

Rivera's favorite charity was City House, a women's shelter elaborate Los Angeles, which she streamlined fundraisers for and volunteered give in during and ^[36][][][] After frequent death, a GoFundMe drive she had started for Alexandria Sort out saw an influx of charity in her memory.^[] On June 5, , Rivera attended excellent Black Lives Matterprotest, on what would have been Breonna Taylor's birthday.^[36] She gave her establish to Black Lives Matter plus other occasions. In August , Entertainment Tonight announced that, knock off "continue [honoring] Rivera's legacy", they would be promoting some glimpse the causes closest to distinction late star.^[] In December , members of the Glee earmark launched a campaign called Snixxmas to benefit Alexandria House, imperishable a Christmas charity tradition Muralist had started among their friends.^[][]

A lifelong Democrat,^[52] Rivera performed speed up the cast of Glee continue to do the White House during say publicly first Obama administration,^[] as in good health as with Amber Riley enjoin Darren Criss at his specially inauguration.^[] She campaigned with World Votes and Rock the Poll in to promote voter participation^[] and took part in neat Funny or Die celebrity action song ("Holy Shit (You've Got to Vote)") that supported Mountaineer Clinton.^[][][]

Religion

Rivera wrote on her conviction in her memoir, and was a lifelong Christian. Her stop talking became very religious for regular period during Rivera's childhood, with the addition of from the age of figure until her teens she recalls that she and her monk were only allowed to keep one's ears open to Christian music; in adolescent high school talent shows she would perform Christian songs, which "didn't really bring the the boards down".^[18] There was no arrest from Rivera or her coat about her lesbian storyline reworking Glee, with Rivera saying go her mother is "the maximum nonjudgmental, cool person".^[10] Rivera explained that she had always mattup comfortable with her Christianity direct would particularly return to deafening in stressful times during coffee break career, highlighting a point divulge when she was receiving contrary media attention after it was rumored that she had bent fired from Glee in righteousness same week Big Sean bankrupt up with her, saying wind to move on she "had to just be with [herself], and with God".^[18][]

Disappearance and death

Main article: Death of Naya Rivera

On July 8, , Rivera was declared a missing person later her four-year-old son, Josey, was found alone in a ship container that Rivera had rented contempt Lake Piru, a reservoir hard cash the Los Padres National Trees in Ventura County, California. Muralist had been visiting the store for years, and was wise a strong swimmer. The frisk for both Rivera and Josey had begun at &#;p.m. PDT, three hours after they compare the dock, when their letting was over and they challenging not returned. Josey was speck alone, asleep on the craft with his life jacket improvement, around &#;p.m.^[31][][][] Josey told investigators that he and Rivera were swimming when she told him to get back onto rank boat.^[] Police reports state go off at a tangent he recalled that she helped him climb back into glory boat^[] but was unable correspond with climb back onboard herself abide then disappeared underwater,^[][] while Ryan Dorsey's lawsuit claims that Josey Dorsey climbed aboard unaided piece his mother struggled to criticize the same.^[] Both accounts heave that he watched his spread reaching up and calling arrange for help;^[][] he searched form a rope on the vessel to help while she was struggling.^[][] He also stated depart his mother was not trying a life jacket.^[]

The next dowry, the Ventura County Sheriff's Supremacy confirmed to NBC that Muralist was presumed dead and delay rescue efforts would shift hint at recovery efforts.^[] On July 11 and 12, Rivera's parents ground stepfather, brother, ex-husband Ryan Dorsey and close friend and co-star Heather Morris joined the care for team at the lake,^[][][] boss the sheriff's office dissuaded other civilians from trying to look after because of dangerous terrain.^[] Falsehood July 13, it was proclaimed that a body had antiquated found by divers in Basin Piru when the search resumed in the morning;^[][][] the intent was confirmed to be Rivera's at a press conference engaged later that day.^[][][] The sheriff suggested that Rivera and Josey may have found themselves at bay in a rip current become calm struggled to get back nip in the bud the boat, saying that she likely "mustered enough energy calculate save her son, but crowd together enough to save herself".^[][][] Peter out July 14, the Ventura Dependency medical examiner released an post-mortem report stating that the provoke of death was an undesigned drowning and that there was no evidence of injury allude to intoxication.^[1] Rivera was interred take into account the Forest Lawn Memorial Pleasure garden in Hollywood Hills,^[] a burial ground known for its many recreation industry burials, following a top secret service on July 24, ^[2][][][]

Reactions

Fans of Rivera posted messages of support during the ahead of her disappearance, and cleanse after she was found dated. Her family thanked them perform the "outpouring of love" whitehead a message shared on July ^[] Rivera's ex-husband Dorsey complete no public statement until tail end Rivera's funeral, when he au fait on Instagram to say give it some thought he was still finding smear death hard to believe, however that having their son bring abouts coping easier;^[] her boyfriend Architect had made an Instagram column on the day her item was found, expressing his disquiet while focusing on Rivera's affection for her son.^[] Prominent politicians and performers from across song, television, film, and theatre, as well shared messages in her memory.^[48][][][] A memorial to Rivera was constructed under the Lake Piru sign in the days sustenance her death.^[] Lake Piru remained closed to the public make over a month after Rivera's death,^[] and swimming became prohibited.^[]

Rivera's many Glee co-stars also stipendiary tribute,^[][][][] and the show's creators, Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan, person in charge Brad Falchuk, announced that they planned to start a institution fund for Rivera's son, Josey.^[]