Amber Riley and Kevin McHale have spoken after their “Glee” co-star Lea Michele faced violent backlash for deleting her Twitter account.
Michele has been in hot waters since earlier this summer, after former “Glee” actress Samantha Ware accused the star of making her life “hell” when they worked together. Now 33-year-old Michele has been called again for remaining silent on Twitter after her co-star, Naya Rivera, went missing last week while sailing with her 4-year-old son Josey on Lake Piru.
Both Riley and McHale, who starred in “Glee” as Mercedes Jones and Artie Abrams, respectively, spoke up in defense of Michele’s silence, calling the tragic disappearance of Rivera, 33, “devastating.”
“Show some respect. All of our energy goes to help find Naya and pray for her safe return and for her family,” Riley tweeted on Sunday. “No one owes anyone online a duel performance. This is very real and devastating. Focus on Naya and her family. We don’t. It doesn’t matter right now. “
McHale retweeted Riley’s message and added, “I can’t begin to understand what Naya’s family must be feeling. I know the rest of us are completely devastated, but not without hope. Respect your family and your privacy at this time.
Please refrain from judging those who don’t show their pain on social media. ♥ ️ “
“Glee” co-star Heather Morris, who portrayed the love interest of Rivera’s character, Santana Lopez, pleaded with authorities to allow her to join the search effort to find the missing actress, who is presumed dead.
“I understand that your team is doing EVERYTHING in their power, but we feel powerless, powerless and want to help in any way,” Morris wrote to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office on Twitter.
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