In the wake of news that Naya Rivera is missing following a boating trip, celebrities are sharing their prayers for the 33-year-old’s safe return. The actress, best known for her breakout role as Santana Lopez on the musical series Glee, became the center of a search-and-rescue mission on Wednesday night after a pontoon she’d rented was found with her 4-year-old son Josey aboard alone. Now, as the search continues, her co-stars and friends have taken to social media to spread messages of hope.
Authorities with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department declared that Rivera was officially missing based on identification found aboard the recovered pontoon. She reportedly rented the boat to go swimming in Lake Piru around 1 p.m. on Wednesday, and the boat (with Josey) was found roughly three hours later. The young boy told authorities that he and his mother had been swimming, but that she went into the water and never came back out. Although the search was suspended late Wednesday evening, it resumed Thursday morning. At the time of this article, Rivera has still not been found but authorities say she is presumed to have drowned. Her son, Josey, is “in good health,” Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Captain Eric Buschow told the Los Angeles Times.
In light of this information, Demi Lovato, Heather Morris and more have taken to social media in response to the news about their missing friend and co-star. You can read their reactions below.
Demi Lovato
When Lovato guest-starred on Glee, she played a brief love interest of Rivera’s character. Taking to her Instagram Stories, she shared a photo of a lit candle, writing, “Please pray for @nayarivera to be found safe and sound.”
Heather Morris
Morris, who played Rivera’s onscreen wife Brittany S. on Glee, pleaded on her Instagram Story, “We need all the prayers we can get to bring our Naya back home to us. We need your love and light.”
Harry Shum Jr.
Praying.
— Harry Shum Jr (@HarryShumJr) July 9, 2020
Shum Jr., who co-starred with Rivera on Glee as Mike Chang, simply tweeted, “Praying.”
Iqbal Theba
Oh God… mercy… please… Actress Naya Rivera, known for 'Glee' missing and may have drowned after going boating on Lake Piru | https://t.co/QBOBaBJwPihttps://t.co/NlBldzyQVv
— iqbal theba (@iqbaltheba) July 9, 2020
The reaction of Theba, who played Glee’s Principal Figgins, proved heart-wrenching. “Oh God… mercy… please… Actress Naya Rivera, known for ‘Glee’ missing and may have drowned after going boating on Lake Piru.”
Jackée Harry
Prayers up for the lovely Naya Rivera. 🙏🙏
We starred alongside one another in her first very television series, The Royal Family, and I’ve watched her career blossom ever since. Please God, don’t cut this life short. pic.twitter.com/8fRDuuh3oK
— Jackée Harry (@JackeeHarry) July 9, 2020
Harry shared a sweet throwback clip of herself and Rivera on The Royal Family in the ‘90s. “Prayers up for the lovely Naya Rivera,” she captioned the video. “We starred alongside one another in her very first television series, The Royal Family, and I’ve watched her career blossom ever since. Please God, don’t cut this life short.”
And the prayers keep coming as other celebrities share their heartfelt concern for Rivera.
https://twitter.com/LesleyAnnBrandt/status/1281103907205165056
Praying for Naya 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
— Victoria Justice (@VictoriaJustice) July 9, 2020
Praying for Naya Rivera. I hope she’s ok.
— Tika Sumpter (@iamtikasumpter) July 9, 2020
The story about @NayaRivera is the most horrifying thing I have read about in a while. My heart goes out to her family. What a terrible trauma….
— Bethenny Frankel (@Bethenny) July 9, 2020
Praying for Naya Rivera and her family. Can’t stop thinking of her poor son.
— Andy Cohen (@Andy) July 9, 2020
🙏🏽 https://t.co/C91fQ62SBg
— Garcelle Beauvais (@GarcelleB) July 9, 2020
Waking up to Naya Rivera missing is an absolute tragedy. Praying for her safety🙏🏽🙏🏽 So absolutely heartbreaking thinking of her 4 year old. #FindNaya
— Nicole Polizzi (@snooki) July 9, 2020
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
— Max Adler (@Mr_Max_Adler) July 9, 2020
I love her. I love you. Holding you tight. 🙏
— VANESSA LENGIES (@littlelengies) July 9, 2020
Sick to my stomach. Please pray. 🙏 https://t.co/DagBfjP3Qj
— Damian Mc Ginty (@damianmcginty) July 9, 2020
Praying for #nayarivera. Ugh.
— justin baldoni (@justinbaldoni) July 9, 2020
Praying for Naya Rivera. I hope she’s ok.
— Tika Sumpter (@iamtikasumpter) July 9, 2020
Dear God…
Please pray for Naya and her son. I pray she is found okay. https://t.co/QJauOIapIT
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) July 9, 2020
Currently, Lake Piru is closed to the public while the search for Rivera continues. This post will be updated with any new information as it becomes available.
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