The late Naya Rivera was a single, divorced mom when she passed away. She and Ryan Dorsey had split a few years before her passing, but from the lack of gossip around their split, it seemed like it was pretty amicable between them and they happily co-parented their son Josey. Ryan seemed genuinely distraught with Naya’s passing in July. He gained full custody of Josey but, again, from the lack of gossip around everything, I’ve been assuming that he’s on good terms with Naya’s family and that everyone was committed to getting along for Josey. And how, apparently. It looks like Ryan and Josey are now living with Naya’s sister Nickayla Rivera.
The grieving ex-husband of Naya Rivera has found solace in a friendship with the tragic Glee star’s lookalike younger sister. Actor Ryan Dorsey, 37, and 25-year old model Nickayla Rivera have been inseparable since 33-year-old Naya drowned while boating with her five-year-old son Josey on California’s Lake Piru in July.
Ryan and Nickayla have now moved into a three-bedroom rented house together where they are caring for Josey, who turned five last week, with the help of Dorsey’s parents. The pair are spending every spare minute of their time together, as seen in exclusive DailyMail.com photos.
Both Ryan and Nickayla, a stunning 5ft 11in fashion model and social influencer who bears a striking resemblance to her actress sister, posted emotional tributes to Naya on social media after her shocking death. Since the tragedy, they have been leaning heavily on each other for support and comfort. On September 6, Nickayla was seen helping Ryan begin moving his belongings from his previous home in North Hills, in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley, to a new rented home where the pair are both living 30 minutes away.
Two days later, the pair spent two hours loading his furniture from his old home into a rented yellow moving truck, which Ryan drove to the new house, which has a pool and costs nearly $5,000-a-month to rent.
It reminds me of Hunter Biden taking up with his brother’s widow shortly after Beau’s death. Grief does a number on people, and when two people are joined in grief, it’s an unique and tragic bond. It could be that Ryan and Nickayla are just trying to get through this together for the moment. It’s also possible that Jack simply wanted to be very close to the Rivera family and his own family. Anyway, no judgment, even if Ryan and Nickayla are together and romantically involved.
Nickayla issued a statement on her IG Stories – she’s not really denying that they’re romantically involved. Again, I have no judgment. I cannot even imagine the depth of the Rivera family’s grief.
Naya Rivera's sister Nickayla responds to salacious reports claiming she moved in with Naya’s ex-husband Ryan Dorsey:
"In the darkest time of my life, the only thing that is important is my friends & family. Showing up for my nephew, even though I can't show up for myself." pic.twitter.com/cdI1OXycXz
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) September 29, 2020
Oh, and after I wrote this, I saw that Ryan confirmed the news on his IG too – they’re living together and raising Josey together.
EXCLUSIVE: Naya Rivera's grieving ex-husband Ryan Dorsey is finding solace with Glee star's sister Nickayla https://t.co/F1ptZjfiUS
— Daily Mail Celebrity (@DailyMailCeleb) September 28, 2020
Photos courtesy of WENN, Instagram.
Everyone deals with grief differently. I’m just not sure how healthy it is. It just slightly reminds me of Brittany Murphys mum sleeping in the same bed as Brittanys husband. Which didn’t end well.
IDK. Your sister’s ex husband is a pretty different dynamic than your son-in-law (and the husband died under the same suspicious circumstances as Brittany, which AFIK had nothing to do with the mother).
At first I thought she was moving in to help parent and how dare we make assumption until I saw that he confirmed it.
It’s really common. Something similar happened in my husband’s family when his uncle passed away (long before I knew him) and it’s never talked about now. Hopefully it works out but if not, it will suck for the kids.
He didn’t confirm that they are in a relationship. The opposite. He said his son asked her to move in and that she is the closest thing to his mother so how could they deny him?
At the end of the day there’s two likely options:
1. They are trying to raise a grieving little boy whilst grieving themselves and are leaning on each other heavily.
2. The above and all of this has led to them being involved on some level as well.
Either way, it is no one’s business but theirs. Grief takes its own course. No judgment on that whatsoever.
And honestly? I tend to think it’s number 1. If my sister passed away, I would probably move in with my brother-in-law to help with their kids. We’re close, we would support each other. Nothing romantic in that.
Either way, I think people need to leave these two alone and let them do what they need to do to raise this little boy and heal from their grief.
“Either way, it is no one’s business but theirs. Grief takes its own course. No judgment on that whatsoever.” That’s the most important message here.
Grief is a curious thing. How someone grieves might not make sense to someone else, but we all do it differently. What everyone must keep in mind is that all the parties involved here are going through an incredibly painful time. Let’s practice some empathy and mind our own business.
I agree with everything you said.
Agreed. On a more random note, I really like the name Nickayla.
My brother died a year ago this very night (it’s night here), tragically and unexpectedly and way too soon. Grief messes you up. You hold on to anything you can to survive. We also lost our mother when we were small children.
I hope they find what they need, and keep both families close for the sake of that little boy. How wonderful for him to be surrounded by all that love.
I am so sorry for your loss.
I am sorry for your loss Kit, sending love and healing to you and your loved ones.
Thank you both, very kind.
Maybe I’m being naive, but it really seems like she has moved in to help care for Josey and provide some additional stability while they all adjust. Given that she was close to Naya, I’m sure Josey has a strong bond with her too.
I hope that’s all it is, as anything more will be very confusing for Josey to say the least.
Why would it be confusing? He’s not old enough to even remember when his parents were married, so having two of his adult authority figures be together in a relationship and parenting partnership doesn’t seem that confusing.
I absolutely agree @betsyrose. Baby won’t remember and having 2 adult parents who love him is the best answer.
Let’s keep in mind that this was extremely common practice back in the day. When a spouse passed it was common to marry the sister or brother of that spouse.
As others said who is to say that isn’t right for them? Whatever works.
I dont think any of us should judge. This family is going through hell and that little boy needs all the love and stability he can get. Thats the bottom line.
Hasn’t he already denied it’s romantic? I’m not one to excuse all behavior during the grieving period but I don’t think that’s what’s happening here.
I get that grief does odd things, but this is bound to be very confusing for Josey (his mummy had died, and now his dad and his auntie are in a relationship all within a few months) and will be even more so if this relationship implodes at some stage.
I think for the sake of Nayas sons future mental health it may have been better to not do this.
Confusing for sure. To see your dad with your mom, then she passes and now loving on your aunt, I wish thought about the boy than do this.
Also, Naya and him weren’t even living together and coparented fine at the time of her death. So it seems alittle weird that she needs to move in to help when really Josey isn’t even used to his mom being around 24/7. With that observation, wishing everyone,especially Josey, the best. This is a very tragic situation and I’m sure everyone is just doing the best they can to cope.
This is not necessarily a critique to your statement but offering an alternative point of view for more understanding of the situation. The little boy lost his mommy forever and he knows it is not the same as not seeing her for part of the week. He watched her die and he may be having a hard time coping with that kind of trauma. He might be experiencing separation anxiety. If he was close with his aunty, it would be normal for him to ask (even beg) her to stay whenever she visited him. Not only does she resemble his own mother, but he could be associating the time spent with her with the time he spent with her mother.
Being used to shared custody and splitting time between parents is drastically different than one parent dying and being gone forever, and dealing with that grief and loss.
He didn’t just lose his mother. He likely saw her die. He was out on the water with her alone and she didn’t come out of the water.
So yeah, it’s not just a matter of parenting a child on your own but managing your child’s trauma from seeing his mother lose her life and knowing he can’t just go to her house next weekend.
But no one would bat an eye if it was the other way around (ie Naya’s sil moved in to help her in the event of Ryan’s death). I don’t consider this a big deal at all.
Agreed. Not only isn’t this a big deal, I don’t see how it’s anything but a positive for the boy to have two loving adults co-parenting him, and even if they do end up married, as long as they provide a supportive, loving home for him, I don’t see how there’s a downside. His parents had been divorced for years, so his aunt and father – whatever happens – have an entirely different relationship than his mother and father did.
This man is suddenly a full-time parent to a son who has just lost his mother. Absolutely no judgement about these living arrangements.
I doubt they’re romantically involved (I could see how that would work out for the both of them), but it’s perfectly understandable for her sister/the baby’s aunt to move in and help take care of the little boy. If she’s still living with them in 2 years, then I’ll buy that they’re in a relationship.
Yeah but they were picture holding hands and very close
The picture of them on escalator doesn’t really look like they’re holding hands, I think it’s just the angle. I’m assuming positive intent in a very sad situation.
Grief takes shape in a lot of ways. I only hope that they’re moving with Josey’s best interest in mind.
Deleted due to comment I was responding to was deleted.
I guess there are two perspectives, the adults and the kid. For them I would say do whatever helps you. But the kid might get confused or receive another blow should they break up. If it’s romantic. I don’t know, everyone reacts differently to trauma and grief but the boy is the only person who has no control over anything.
I mean…this won’t end well and it ultimately isn’t healthy for anyone involved. ESPECIALLY Josey who Im sure is already dealing with so much confusion and upheaval and this only adds to that confusion.
I think he confirmed that it’s not romantic.
He absolutely did, I don’t know why anyone would push the narrative that it’s anything else. Everyone in that situation has suffered a terrible loss, and are doing what they can do to help a five-year-old kid get through it. Leave them alone.
I read everything he said (didn’t watch the video) and I didn’t see a confirmation of a romantic relationship. He kept referring to her role as that baby’s aunt and how they were supporting each other and I wouldn’t be surprised if it turns romantic at some point but I don’t get why people are so sure that’s where it is now.
didn’t he also say that his son asked for his aunt to come live with them?
It would not surprise me one bit if the son asked for his aunt to come and live with them. I could see the adults thinking, This is not what we planned on, but we can’t refuse this grieving child whom we both love anything he says he really needs right now. Plus, if the son needs extra help and attention and care right now — and of course he does — it’s best for the caregivers to be equally invested in him and equally trusted by him. If the father had to rely on a couple of nannies for that extra help, it definitely wouldn’t be nearly as beneficial to the son as having his aunt around.
Grief does things to people.
She moved in to help with the little one. Anything might happen and it’s fine. That’s grief. But she moved in for the baby. To help. To help them process. To give the father some time. It’s an impossible thing. Loss.
Everyone does handle grief differently and perhaps this has turned romantic. But even if they are in a relationship, I read his response and I didn’t see anything about them being a couple.
The picture of then on the elevator is ridiculous. They aren’t even holding hands! Just because the newspaper captioned it doesn’t make it true. Take a look, the hands are in motion or more blurred than the rest of them, but you can still see her thumb faces toward her body (palm back). To hold his hand she would need to be palm forward and thumb toward his body. Go hold someone’s hand if you need a refresher. These people are mourning and this is a garbage daily Mail story from a blurry photo.
I love she’s stepping up to help Josey.
That’s all that matters.
Whether they are friends, lovers, or just partners in grief trying their best to raise Josey, that’s their business. It seems like a good situation for Josey regardless, as he can only benefit from more people around to love him and support him.
That kid is lucky he has two people around him that love him so. More love the better.
Exactly.
He had said that Josey said he wanted to go to heaven to be with his mommy. That must be terrifying for a parent to hear. Let this family do whatever they meed to to get this little boy get thru this, without assuming the worst about his family.
As long as the child is in a safe, loving environment I see nothing here that I would judge or criticize. If they become involved romantically I can’t really see that negatively affecting the child.
So… They are probably more like brother and sister- like I am with my BIL (married to my twin). He watched this girl grow up, she’s probably really close with the son, and them all living together is like having a family under one roof so things can be more stable , as opposed to living with parents.
Nothing wrong here in any case. A family I know “blended” lovingly & well after dad’s early death. The widow had 2 young kids. Her brother-in-law, a couple of years younger than the deceased, was a good friend & devoted uncle. He helped the widow & the kids (boys), eventually married the widow & they had a daughter together. The kids were very comfortable & felt their beloved uncle was a much better stepfather than anyone else could have ever been. Certainly could stay tight with the grandparents – no changes there. All 3 kids are tight. The 2nd marriage has lasted 45+ years.
Who’d be better to take good care of my kids if I died than one of my siblings, who’ve known them since their births?
I have to agree. We a similar story that happened in our family generations ago. My great great grandmother died from the Spanish Flu after her son disobeyed them and went to the fair in San Francisco, contracted the virus and brought it back to their family farm. It killed his mother (my great great grandmother). They were farmers and the father needed a wife , he was busy working the farm every day, the children needed a mother. So they sent for the deceased mother’s younger sister in Italy. They brought the younger sister over to America from Italy and she married him, and raised her sisters children for the rest of her life. Things happen in life and whats more important is that we step up and answer the call when we are needed by our loved ones. Be there for the innocent children, do the right thing. Keep your family together.
Not everything a young woman does is motivated by her romantic or sexual desires. We are so much more complex than that and I find it a tad sexist that people are reducing Naya’s sisters actions to something as simple as sexually/romantically motivated. Clearly, Naya’s sister feels a sense of duty to her nephew and that is commendable.
If the little one asked his aunty to move in to be with him, and his dad was good with it, I’m really glad she’s doing what is helping the child through this, and not being put off by what people might say, or how it might look. It really isn’t that long ago. And if he’s not sleeping well and needing extra support around the clock, having two adults to share the care would be helpful. In cases like these, if family is loving and supportive, and it seems like both sides of the family are, then hopefully all those grieving will get what they need. I’m glad Josey has family that love him enough to put his needs first right now.
The speculation is ridiculous. They both have stated she moved in simply to help him raise the little boy. He needed help and she stepped up. Neither of them have said they are in a romantic relationship.
If the aunt was older, fat or ugly this would be a non-story. But let’s post sexy photos of her and imply there is more here. Shame on everyone who exploits this family’s grief.
Grief is strange. Sounds like they are in a romantic relationship, which is probably not a good idea, but they are also young. Vs the Hunter Biden Hallie thing which…. Hunter was married. And an addict. What the FUCK was Hallie thinking!
This cohabitating is all about Josey from where I stand. Ryan is heartbroken and was obviously still in love with Naya at the time of her death. He is now a full-time parent and needs help surviving this time in his life and probably needs help with parenting duties. From where I stand, this is a perfect example of family coming together to help each other get through this difficult time.
I think people who side eye this may not have niece/nephews or have a sister. They may not have close bonds with their sisters or niece/nephews. Because if you did and were close to them, you would know where Titi is coming from.
I am not surprised that Titi moved right in after finding out Josey asked if she could live with him “forever”. Thats fucking heartbreaking. I’d drop everything to be with my nephew as well and be there in a HEARTBEAT if he asked that of me. My nephew also calls me titi. He is the closet thing I’ll ever have to a son as I don’t have my own children. He is the beneficiary on my life insurance. I’d take a bullet for him. Heaven forbid anything happened to my sister, I would do the same as Naya’s sister is doing. I’d also like to point out that loving her nephew also extends to her brother in law. She probably wants her nephew to have a healthy father so supporting Ryan is also supporting Josey.
We should be celebrating this type of loyalty, devotion to family, commitment to children, and the sacrifice being made by her and the maturity in this 25 year old woman, not look for something sinister. 25 is still REALLY young, most 25 year olds are still out finding themselves, partying and having fun. I have total respect for her stepping up to the plate for her nephew.
I think it’d actually be great for all 3 of them if a happy romantic relationship worked out here. It’s also a common occurrence in these types of situations. It’s much tackier to judge them harshly for how they are coping, than it is for them to cling to each other.
Anybody who has remotely anything negative or smug to say about this can just step right off. They don’t need every internet Karen who think’s they know all crying “this isn’t healthy for the kid”…no, you don’t know the situation.
And strangers causing toxicity over them trying just to get through is directly not healthy for the poor little boy because you’re putting more emotional strain on the only family he has left.
Save it. Go get a hobby. Quit terrorizing a bereaved toddler’s family with your judgement.
Wait wait wait.
You mean this kid has people in his life who are working together to make sure that he’s as healthy and happy as possible, even if it means sharing space with each other when, had circumstances not been what they are, they wouldn’t be? You mean they put aside their differences for the sake of a little boy who suffered the tragedy of not only losing his mom, but witnessing it?
Why, call the morality police! This is obviously a travesty of epic proportions and we must do something about this posthaste!
I think this sounds like a family coming to together to get through an unspeakable tragedy. From the daily mail article, it sounded like the whole family is dealing with this together. I think that’s great for that sweet little boy.
I agree that everyone deals with grief differently but we are forgetting the fact that this ex lied and accused naya of abuse!! They had joint custody but I doubt they were that close afterwards.
Good luck to them! I hope they boy is getting therapy to deal with all this