The story of Naya Rivera and Ryan Dorsey’s son after the tragic death of his mother
13 february 2025 в 20:13
Josey Hollis Dorsey is best known as the only child of «Glee» star Naya Rivera and actor Ryan Dorsey. Josey has grown a lot since Naya tragically passed away in July 2020. Being the last person to see Naya alive, his story broke the hearts of fans. Now, in a 2025 interview with PEOPLE magazine, Ryan shared that his son told him about his last moments with Naya.
Learn more about Naya and Ryan’s son, Josey, below.
Josey Hollis Dorsey was born on September 17, 2015. His parents, Naya Rivera and Ryan Dorsey, had a tumultuous romantic relationship. Naya and her ex-husband, Ryan Dorsey, surprised fans in 2014 when they got married just three months after she called off her engagement with Big Sean. And although they welcomed Josey into the world a year after their wedding, their relationship had its ups and downs, ultimately leading to their separation.
Naya and Ryan initially filed for divorce in 2016 before calling it off in 2017. But after Naya was charged with domestic violence in November 2017, she filed for divorce again, and they finally split in 2018. They also agreed to temporary joint custody of Josey.
Josey Hollis Dorsey currently lives with his father, Ryan, following the tragic and accidental drowning of his mother, Naya, in July 2020.
The «Glee» actress rented a pontoon boat for herself and her son on Lake Piru — an hour north of Los Angeles — on July 8, 2020. But a few hours later, Josey was found alone on the boat, with Naya nowhere to be found. It took nearly a week to discover Naya’s body on Monday, July 13. Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub stated that Josey told them they went swimming in the lake, but the unanchored boat started to drift, and she had enough strength to get him back on board. She was not wearing a life jacket, and Josey, according to authorities, said that when he looked back in the water, he saw Naya disappear beneath the surface.
«She mustered enough energy to get her son back onto the boat, but not enough to save herself», - Sheriff Bill Ayub said at a press conference on July 13, 2020. Rivera used her last strength to save her son, who was then four years old. Rivera tragically drowned, and we can only imagine how difficult it has been for him since then.
After Naya’s death, Josey went to live with his father, Ryan. And as later reported, after Naya’s departure, the actress’s sister from «Glee», - Nickayla Rivera, moved in with Ryan. They decided to raise Josey together, but of course, rumors of romantic relationships arose.
However, after revealing their new life situation, Ryan took to Instagram to dispel all rumors of romance. Ryan titled his 12-minute Instagram video on September 29 as «Not always black and white». In the video, he said, «I can’t believe this is real life, and I’m going to figure it out. I’ve learned that a lot of people have a lot to say and opinions on the tragic family situation. There are people passing judgment, making assumptions, sending awful messages, wishing death upon strangers they know almost nothing about».
He later mentioned that Josey asked Nickayla (his nickname for her is «Titi») to live with them. «And then he asks me if Titi can live with us. 'I want Titi to live with us forever,' because she’s now the closest thing he has to a mother, because you need all the help you can get as a single parent trying to build your career and get through this disaster with your child, and you’re dealing with it every hour every day for over 80 days now», - Ryan explained.
«I wouldn’t want any of you to ever go through this, and for him to get what he wants, what he asks for, and what he needs right now, which is his family. Even if you know it’s temporary and it’s not forever. It is»
Learn more about Naya and Ryan’s son, Josey, below.
Josey Hollis Dorsey was born on September 17, 2015. His parents, Naya Rivera and Ryan Dorsey, had a tumultuous romantic relationship. Naya and her ex-husband, Ryan Dorsey, surprised fans in 2014 when they got married just three months after she called off her engagement with Big Sean. And although they welcomed Josey into the world a year after their wedding, their relationship had its ups and downs, ultimately leading to their separation.
Naya and Ryan initially filed for divorce in 2016 before calling it off in 2017. But after Naya was charged with domestic violence in November 2017, she filed for divorce again, and they finally split in 2018. They also agreed to temporary joint custody of Josey.
Josey Hollis Dorsey currently lives with his father, Ryan, following the tragic and accidental drowning of his mother, Naya, in July 2020.
The «Glee» actress rented a pontoon boat for herself and her son on Lake Piru — an hour north of Los Angeles — on July 8, 2020. But a few hours later, Josey was found alone on the boat, with Naya nowhere to be found. It took nearly a week to discover Naya’s body on Monday, July 13. Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub stated that Josey told them they went swimming in the lake, but the unanchored boat started to drift, and she had enough strength to get him back on board. She was not wearing a life jacket, and Josey, according to authorities, said that when he looked back in the water, he saw Naya disappear beneath the surface.
«She mustered enough energy to get her son back onto the boat, but not enough to save herself», - Sheriff Bill Ayub said at a press conference on July 13, 2020. Rivera used her last strength to save her son, who was then four years old. Rivera tragically drowned, and we can only imagine how difficult it has been for him since then.
After Naya’s death, Josey went to live with his father, Ryan. And as later reported, after Naya’s departure, the actress’s sister from «Glee», - Nickayla Rivera, moved in with Ryan. They decided to raise Josey together, but of course, rumors of romantic relationships arose.
However, after revealing their new life situation, Ryan took to Instagram to dispel all rumors of romance. Ryan titled his 12-minute Instagram video on September 29 as «Not always black and white». In the video, he said, «I can’t believe this is real life, and I’m going to figure it out. I’ve learned that a lot of people have a lot to say and opinions on the tragic family situation. There are people passing judgment, making assumptions, sending awful messages, wishing death upon strangers they know almost nothing about».
He later mentioned that Josey asked Nickayla (his nickname for her is «Titi») to live with them. «And then he asks me if Titi can live with us. 'I want Titi to live with us forever,' because she’s now the closest thing he has to a mother, because you need all the help you can get as a single parent trying to build your career and get through this disaster with your child, and you’re dealing with it every hour every day for over 80 days now», - Ryan explained.
«I wouldn’t want any of you to ever go through this, and for him to get what he wants, what he asks for, and what he needs right now, which is his family. Even if you know it’s temporary and it’s not forever. It is»
© Artemenko Olga
