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Five years have gone by since actress Naya Rivera tragically drowned at Lake Piru in California, and now Ryan Dorsey, her ex-husband, is sharing his thoughts about that heart-wrenching day and the lasting effects on their son, Josey. In an emotional interview, Dorsey reflects on the moments leading up to Rivera’s death and the challenges he faces as a single father trying to keep her memory alive.
Now nine years old, Josey has started to share his memories from that terrible day. He recalls how his mother calmed his fears while swimming, telling him, “Don’t be silly!” before instructing him to swim back to the pontoon boat. Josey remembers the urgency of the moment, as he grabbed hold of the boat’s sides and pulled himself back, aiming to be close to his mother. Tragically, Josey described the last words his mother said—his name—just before she disappeared beneath the water.
In the years since Rivera’s passing, Dorsey has had to cope with profound grief. He spoke candidly about how difficult it was to process what happened during the frantic search that lasted five days, ultimately ending in heartbreak when her body was recovered. Dorsey reflected, “The search was the worst period of my life,” highlighting the emotional toll on both him and Josey, who witnessed the event unfold.
After Rivera’s passing, Dorsey relocated to West Virginia with Josey, seeking a fresh start and a different environment to raise their son. He started working at Warner Bros. while juggling parenting responsibilities. Dorsey often takes moments to pause and think about how to honor Rivera’s memory in their everyday lives, showing his commitment to ensuring Josey knows all about his mother.
The tragedy didn’t end with Rivera’s drowning. Dorsey filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Ventura County, which was settled in 2022. This legal battle was one of many stressors they faced following the loss of Rivera—an emotional challenge that weighed heavily on Dorsey as he tried to navigate this tough period.
As the anniversary of Rivera’s death approaches, a more joyful occasion awaits. Dorsey is planning a big celebration for Josey’s upcoming tenth birthday on September 17. This moment represents not only a milestone for Josey but also a chance for Dorsey to show his son how cherished and loved he is, reminding him that his mother’s spirit lives on through the stories they share and the memories they maintain.
Despite the heartbreak, Dorsey remains focused on giving Josey a loving childhood. He emphasizes the importance of talking about Rivera and sharing stories that keep her alive in their hearts. Just as Dorsey describes his complicated relationship with Rivera—full of ups and downs—they also share a united goal of raising Josey to be happy and healthy. Through laughter, conversations about Rivera, and embracing shared activities, Dorsey shows how resilient they are, navigating through the shadows of sorrow.
While the tragedy of Naya Rivera’s death still looms large, Ryan Dorsey’s new chapter reflects a dedication to love and family. As Josey grows older, he carries the weight of his memories, along with the warmth of his mother’s spirit. The story of Rivera will continue to be a thread woven throughout their lives—through love, remembrance, and the unbreakable bond between a father and son trying to navigate life together.
Five years have gone by since actress Naya Rivera tragically drowned at Lake Piru in California, and now Ryan Dorsey, her ex-husband, is sharing his thoughts about that heart-wrenching day and the lasting effects on their son, Josey. In an emotional interview, Dorsey reflects on the moments leading up to Rivera’s death and the challenges he faces as a single father trying to keep her memory alive.
Now nine years old, Josey has started to share his memories from that terrible day. He recalls how his mother calmed his fears while swimming, telling him, “Don’t be silly!” before instructing him to swim back to the pontoon boat. Josey remembers the urgency of the moment, as he grabbed hold of the boat’s sides and pulled himself back, aiming to be close to his mother. Tragically, Josey described the last words his mother said—his name—just before she disappeared beneath the water.
In the years since Rivera’s passing, Dorsey has had to cope with profound grief. He spoke candidly about how difficult it was to process what happened during the frantic search that lasted five days, ultimately ending in heartbreak when her body was recovered. Dorsey reflected, “The search was the worst period of my life,” highlighting the emotional toll on both him and Josey, who witnessed the event unfold.
After Rivera’s passing, Dorsey relocated to West Virginia with Josey, seeking a fresh start and a different environment to raise their son. He started working at Warner Bros. while juggling parenting responsibilities. Dorsey often takes moments to pause and think about how to honor Rivera’s memory in their everyday lives, showing his commitment to ensuring Josey knows all about his mother.
The tragedy didn’t end with Rivera’s drowning. Dorsey filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Ventura County, which was settled in 2022. This legal battle was one of many stressors they faced following the loss of Rivera—an emotional challenge that weighed heavily on Dorsey as he tried to navigate this tough period.
As the anniversary of Rivera’s death approaches, a more joyful occasion awaits. Dorsey is planning a big celebration for Josey’s upcoming tenth birthday on September 17. This moment represents not only a milestone for Josey but also a chance for Dorsey to show his son how cherished and loved he is, reminding him that his mother’s spirit lives on through the stories they share and the memories they maintain.
Despite the heartbreak, Dorsey remains focused on giving Josey a loving childhood. He emphasizes the importance of talking about Rivera and sharing stories that keep her alive in their hearts. Just as Dorsey describes his complicated relationship with Rivera—full of ups and downs—they also share a united goal of raising Josey to be happy and healthy. Through laughter, conversations about Rivera, and embracing shared activities, Dorsey shows how resilient they are, navigating through the shadows of sorrow.
While the tragedy of Naya Rivera’s death still looms large, Ryan Dorsey’s new chapter reflects a dedication to love and family. As Josey grows older, he carries the weight of his memories, along with the warmth of his mother’s spirit. The story of Rivera will continue to be a thread woven throughout their lives—through love, remembrance, and the unbreakable bond between a father and son trying to navigate life together.
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It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making it look like readable English. Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for ‘lorem ipsum’ will uncover many web sites still in their infancy.
The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making
The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making it look like readable English. Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for ‘lorem ipsum’ will uncover many web sites still in their infancy.
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