Naya Rivera’s father asks fans to ‘leave Ryan Murphy alone’ after row over ‘broken promises’ to late star’s son
Naya Rivera poses for a portrait session at the 2013 Giffoni Film Festival on 24 July 2013 in Giffoni Valle Piana, Italy. (Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty)
Naya Rivera’s father has called on fans to leave Glee creator Ryan Murphy alone amid an ongoing row about a college fund for the late star’s son.
In the weeks following Glee star Naya Rivera’s death, the show’s creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan announced that they were setting up a college fund for her son Josey in honour of Naya.
George Rivera, a retired actor and Naya’s father, recently suggested that Ryan Murphy had “broken promises” to contribute funds towards Josey’s education. He said “promises made in public” had faded “with time and excuses”.
His statements prompted a flood of fans to tweet at Murphy, demanding he follow through on his promise. The hashtag #JusticeForTheRiveraFamily began trending on social media.
Murphy then tried to extinguish the backlash against him. He tweeted that he, Falchuk and Brennan were still “committed to create a college fund for Naya Rivera’s child, Josey, through the Naya Rivera Estate Trust”.
He added: “We have been in repeated conversations with the appropriate executors of her estate.”
Myself, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan have committed to create a college fund for Naya Rivera’s child Josey through the Naya Rivera Estate Trust. We have been in repeated conversations with the appropriate executors of her estate.
— Ryan Murphy (@MrRPMurphy) March 10, 2021
Following the statement, Rivera asked fans to “please leave” Murphy “alone about his actions or non actions”. He wrote on Twitter: “Guys, we appreciate all the love for Naya, I feel your sincerity and devotion and I miss her everyday. [Two] things, please leave @MrRPMurphy alone about his actions or non actions. That’s for him to solve.
“[Second], DO NOT DONATE to any cause w/ Nayas name unless Rivera Family endorses [it].”
Guys, we appreciate all the love for Naya, I feel your sincerity and devotion and I miss her everyday. 2 things, pls leave @MrRPMurphy alone about his actions or non actions.. that’s for him to solve. 2nd, DO NOT DONATE to any cause w/ Nayas name unless Rivera Family endorses.. https://t.co/UNE87dQCyv— G. Rivera (@UserArtists) March 10, 2021
Murphy has yet to respond to Rivera’s latest post on Twitter.
Naya Rivera was best-known for starring as lesbian teenager Santana Lopez in the hit musical TV show Glee. She tragically died last July after going missing during a boating trip with her young son, Josey.
After a frantic search, Naya’s body was recovered in Lake Piru, California. Investigators suggested that she and Josey may have been caught in a strong current while swimming, and Naya “mustered enough energy to get her son back into the boat, but not enough to save herself”.
