The perfect pair. Naya Rivera gave birth to her son, Josey, in 2015 and the mother-son duo were inseparable until the actress’ tragic death in July 2020.
“Naya was born to be a mother and is doing really great so far,” a source exclusively told Us Weekly following her and ex-husband Ryan Dorsey’s son’s arrival. “Ryan has amazing paternal instincts and has been waiting on them both hand and foot. They are so excited to be first-time parents.”
The Glee alum went on to document their life with Josey via social media, from coordinating Halloween costumes to Valentine’s Day celebrations.
In May 2019, the California native exclusively opened up to Us about her “juggling act” as a working mom. “It was a lot of back and forth [while filming Step Up: High Water],” the singer said at the time. “I would get some long weekends here and there, and I’d fly back [from Atlanta to Los Angeles]. I’d bring my son with me for like a month and a half.”
Rivera, who split from Dorsey in 2018, went on to say, “In our business, [families] are something that you always have to … work around.”
The actress rented a motorized pontoon boat at Lake Piru near Los Angeles in July 2020 and was reported missing when the craft was overdue. Josey was found sleeping inside the boat alone and wearing a life vest, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department told Us in a statement.
Just days later on July 13, 2020, officials confirmed the actress’ body had been recovered. While addressing reporters, the sheriff’s department shared heartbreaking details of their final moments together. “We know from speaking with her son that he and Naya swam in the lake together at some point during their journey,” an officer said. “It was during that time that her son described being helped into the boat by Naya who boosted him onto the deck from behind. He told investigators that he looked back and saw her disappear under the surface of the water.”
One day prior to going missing, Rivera posted a close-up selfie with her son captioned, “Just the two of us.”
Keep scrolling to see her most adorable moments with her little one.
