Glee star Naya Rivera arrested on domestic violence charge

Naya Rivera, who played lesbian cheerleader Santana on Glee, has been arrested on a domestic violence charge.

The actress became a fan favourite on the Fox musical TV show, which was cancelled in 2015.

Her character Santana was originally an antagonist, but later became a member of the Glee club along with Brittney (Heather Morris).

Later seasons of the show dealt with her character developing feelings for Brittney, coming out as a lesbian, and later getting married in the show’s first same-sex wedding.

Rivera was arrested at a house in Kanawha County, West Virginia, over the weekend.

Police were called to a domestic situation, according to the police report.

Rivera’s husband Ryan Dorsey told officials that his wife had hit him in the head and face.

The actress was arrested and charged with “misdemeanour domestic battery”.

Naya Rivera’s mugshot

She appeared in the Kanawha County magistrate court office on Saturday night, where her bail bond for release was set at $1000.


According to the BBC, a police spokesperson said: “As is always the case in criminal matters, the charge against Mrs. Rivera is merely an accusation. She is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.”

Rivera and Dorsey have been married since 2014 and have a two-year-old son.

(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for March Of Dimes)

Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office said the couple “were arguing over their child”.

A number of members of the Glee cast have been in the news over the past few years.

Mark Salling, who played Puck on the show, is a registered sex offender, after pleading guilty to child pornography charges earlier this year.

He faces four to seven years in jail.

And Cory Monteith, who played the show’s original lead Finn, tragically died of a drug overdose in 2013, aged just 31.

It’s not all been sad, though.

More recently a former Glee actor came out as transgender, revealing his name as Jake Zyrus.

Zyrus, who was formerly credited on Glee as Charice Pempengco, starred as Rachel’s musical rival Sunshine Corazon.