Naya Rivera’s ex Ryan Dorsey speaks out for first time since her death
It’s been nearly five years since the tragic accidental drowning death of Naya Rivera, at age 33, and her ex-husband Ryan Dorsey still can’t look at pictures of her and carries tremendous guilt for not being the hero that fateful day.
‘I probably would have jumped in, and I like to think I would’ve saved the day,’ the grieving 41-year-old told People on Wednesday.
‘But on the other hand, I think maybe something bad could have happened to both of us. I don’t know.’
Even Naya and Ryan’s nine-year-old son Josey Hollis Dorsey – who was only four at the time – feels guilty over not being able to rescue her after their unanchored pontoon boat went adrift in Lake Piru as she exhausted herself getting him back onboard.
‘He said that the last thing she said was his name, and then she went under, and he didn’t see her anymore. It just rocks my world that he had to witness her last moments,’ Ryan recalled.
‘Something he’s said over and over is that he was trying to find a life raft, and there was a rope, but there was a big spider on the rope, and he was too scared to throw it. I keep reassuring him, “Buddy, that rope wasn’t going to be long enough.”
It’s been nearly five years since the tragic accidental drowning death of Naya Rivera, at age 33, and her ex-husband Ryan Dorsey still can’t look at pictures of her and carries tremendous guilt for not being the hero that fateful day (pictured in 2015)
‘That obviously still sticks out in his head because he feels like he could have saved her. I think she just got caught up in a brush — that or a weird undercurrent from the dam. It was just a freak occurrence.’
26 other people have reportedly drowned in the 130ft-deep man-made reservoir known locally for unpredictable currents and bad whirlpools.
In 2022, Ventura County reached a confidential settlement with Dorsey in his wrongful death lawsuit due to the rented boat ‘not complying with safety standards.’
Read More Ryan Dorsey and son Josey wish the late Naya Rivera a happy birthday
‘Through this settlement, Josey will receive just compensation for having to endure the drowning of his beloved mother at Lake Piru,’ attorney Amjad M. Khan wrote in a statement to The Blast.
‘Though the tragic loss of Josey’s mother can never truly be overcome, we are very pleased that the monetary settlement will significantly assist Josey with his life beyond this tragedy.’
The On Call guest star remembered collapsing at Ralph’s grocery store in Big Bear upon hearing Rivera was missing and he drove 100MPH the 145 miles to Lake Piru to help with the five-day search effort for her remains.
‘It was the worst five days of my life,’ Ryan recalled.
‘There was a fear, what if we don’t find her? It was just awful.’
Naya’s younger sister Nickayla later moved in with Dorsey and his son for about a year.
The grieving 41-year-old told People on Wednesday: ‘I probably would have jumped in, and I like to think I would’ve saved the day. But on the other hand, I think maybe something bad could have happened to both of us. I don’t know’
Even Naya and Ryan’s nine-year-old son Josey Hollis Dorsey – who was only four at the time – feels guilty over not being able to rescue her after their unanchored pontoon boat went adrift in Lake Piru as she exhausted herself getting him back onboard (CCTV footage from July 8, 2020)
Ryan recalled: ‘He said that the last thing she said was his name, and then she went under, and he didn’t see her anymore. It just rocks my world that he had to witness her last moments. Something he’s said over and over is that he was trying to find a life raft, and there was a rope, but there was a big spider on the rope, and he was too scared to throw it. I keep reassuring him, “Buddy, that rope wasn’t going to be long enough”‘ (pictured in January)
In 2022, Ventura County reached a confidential settlement with Dorsey in his wrongful death lawsuit due to the rented boat ‘not complying with safety standards’ (pictured July 7, 2020)
‘Through this settlement, Josey will receive just compensation for having to endure the drowning of his beloved mother at Lake Piru,’ attorney Amjad M. Khan wrote in a statement (pictured in January)
‘She was such a big help,’ the Chicago P.D. guest star said of their cohabitation.
‘I had to go to Vancouver for five months and Josey came the last month to stay with me, but during the time I was gone she held it down and kept that consistency. It was very surreal sometimes because the way she would say things to Josey would sound like his mom.’
Eyebrows raised considering Ryan’s three-year marriage to the Glee alum ended in divorce in 2018 after he had dropped his misdemeanor domestic battery charge against her.
Dorsey plans on writing more about that ‘monumental disaster’ in his upcoming memoir.
The on/off couple – who originally met in 2010 – famously wed in Cabo San Lucas before 12 guests on July 19, 2014 – the same exact day Naya was originally scheduled to marry her ex-fiancé Big Sean before their split.
For the past two years, Ryan has been living a quieter life in his native West Virigina where little Josey has been involved in sports, violin lessons, and acted in two plays at the Children’s Theatre of Charleston.
‘We made this book of memories for Josey that sits by his bed, and during the holidays he was crying looking at it,’ Dorsey said.
‘You can only give him a hug and tell him, “I know, life is not fair. Bad things happen and there’s no reason for it, and you just have to do your best to be a good person.”
‘It’s hard trying to explain things that you can’t really make sense of no matter what age you are. I’m not a big believer in everything happens for a reason because I can’t ever think of a reason why he doesn’t have his mom.’
The on/off couple – who originally met in 2010 – famously wed in Cabo San Lucas before 12 guests on July 19, 2014 (pictured) – the same exact day Naya was originally scheduled to marry her ex-fiancé Big Sean before their split
For the past two years, Ryan has been living a quieter life in his native West Virigina where little Josey has been involved in sports, violin lessons, and acted in two plays at the Children’s Theatre of Charleston
Dorsey said: ‘We made this book of memories for Josey that sits by his bed, and during the holidays he was crying looking at it. You can only give him a hug and tell him, “I know, life is not fair. Bad things happen”‘ (pictured in January)
Josey has been ‘pressuring’ his father to give him a stepmother and a younger brother, and he recently began dating someone (pictured in January)
Ryan coyly said: ‘I think I found someone that I do like. But you know, out of town long-distance relationship? Expecting someone to sign up for my life and his life, it’s not easy. I think he’s easy, but all the variables, it’s a lot to ask from someone’ (pictured Thursday)
Dorsey has been in LA filming a ‘very cool’ Apple TV+ show, but first, he will next reprise his role as the mysterious Frank Whales in this Sunday’s episode of the CBS hit Tracker – titled ‘The Disciple’
The Magnum P.I. guest star said: ‘I haven’t gotten my big break yet as a series regular, and I’m hopeful that’s going to happen soon…I didn’t leave LA because we were just sitting on a bunch of money’
Josey has been ‘pressuring’ his father to give him a stepmother and a younger brother, and he recently began dating someone.
‘I think I found someone that I do like,’ Ryan coyly said.
‘But you know, out of town long-distance relationship? Expecting someone to sign up for my life and his life, it’s not easy. I think he’s easy, but all the variables, it’s a lot to ask from someone.’
Dorsey has been in LA filming a ‘very cool’ Apple TV+ show, but first, he will next reprise his role as the mysterious Frank Whales in this Sunday’s episode of the CBS hit Tracker – titled ‘The Disciple.’
‘I haven’t gotten my big break yet as a series regular, and I’m hopeful that’s going to happen soon,’ the Magnum P.I. guest star said.
‘I’m a single parent, I’m the only one earning money for Josey. Everyone thinks that if she was successful, and if I’m on TV, that you have a bunch of money, but no one really knows the financial situation. I didn’t leave LA because we were just sitting on a bunch of money.’
Ryan is also every bit the influencer with paid partnerships for brands like Happy Head, Soula, and Coors Light.