Naya Rivera’s ex-husband Ryan Dorsey is speaking after she drowned on July 8.
This is the first time that the 37-year-old actor and father of his 4-year-old son, Josey, has posted on social media since his death.
“This is so unfair … there are not enough words to express the emptiness left in everyone’s hearts,” Dorsey wrote on Instagram on Saturday. “I can’t believe this is life now. I don’t know if I’ll ever believe it. You were here … We were in the back swimming with Josey the day before. Life is not fair.”
In the accompanying photo, Rivera can be seen cradling his son.
After dating a few years earlier, Dorsey and Rivera were married in 2014. A little over a year later, she gave birth to their only child, Josey Hollis Dorsey. After separating in 2017, the couple’s divorce was finalized in June 2018.
“I don’t know what to say … I am grateful for our times and our journey that brought us together and gave us the sweetest and kindest child we could hope for,” he said. “I remember sometimes you used to get mad at me: ‘Ryan, can you stop chatting! Haha. I’m glad I didn’t listen to you because I have hundreds and probably thousands of snapshots and videos that Josey will have forever and
Rivera went missing on Wednesday, July 8, after renting a pontoon with his son on Lake Piru in southern California. Josey was found asleep alone in the boat that afternoon. The boy told authorities that he and his mother had been swimming in the lake, but that his mother never returned to the boat.
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BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actress Naya Rivera arrives for the 73rd Annual InStyle And Warner Bros. Golden Globe Awards Annual Party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Axelle / Bauer-Griffin / FilmMagic)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actors Naya Rivera and husband Ryan Dorsey arrive at the 73rd Annual InStyle and Warner Bros. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire / WireImage)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – DECEMBER 4: Actress Naya Rivera arrives at the March Of Dimes Babies Celebration 2015 at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on December 4, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff / FilmMagic)
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – APRIL 8: Actress Naya Rivera arrives at the Marie Claire Fresh Faces Party at Soho House on April 8, 2014 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff / FilmMagic)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 18: Actress Naya Rivera attends the 100th episode ‘Glee’ celebration at Chateau Marmont on March 18, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris / FilmMagic)
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 12: Actress Naya Rivera attends the Michael Kors show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2014 at Spring Studios on February 12, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for Michael Kors)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 08: Naya Rivera arrives at the 40th Annual People’s Choice Awards at Nokia Theater LA Live on January 8, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris / Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – January 8: Actress Naya Rivera attends the 40th Annual People’s Choice Awards at Nokia Theater LA Live on January 8, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt / Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 22: Naya Rivera is seen shopping at Barneys New York on December 22, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bauer-Griffin / GC Images)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – December 11: Naya Rivera arrives at The Women Reporter Women In Entertainment Breakfast honoring Oprah Winfrey at the Beverly Hills Hotel on December 11, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz / WireImage)
HOLLYWOOD, CA – December 8: Big Sean (L) and Naya Rivera arrive at the 15th Annual Trevor Project Benefits held at Hollywood Palladium on December 8, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Tran / FilmMagic)
HOLLYWOOD, CA – DECEMBER 8: Actress Naya Rivera (L) and actor Brant Daugherty speak on stage at ‘TrevorLIVE LA’ honoring Jane Lynch and Toyota for the Trevor Project at Hollywood Palladium on December 8, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images for the Trevor Project)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – OCTOBER 21: Actress Naya Rivera arrives at ELLE celebrates her 20th annual Women In Hollywood event at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles in Beverly Hills on October 21, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff / FilmMagic)
HOLLYWOOD, CA – October 03: Actress Naya Rivera attends the ‘Hollywood Hot List’ Latina Magazine Party at the Redbury Hotel on October 3, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris / FilmMagic)
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – August 13: Actress Naya Rivera and rapper Big Sean attend the Rose Lounge 2013 Moet & Chandon private listening party for Big Sean’s new album ‘Hall of Fame’ at the London Hotel on August 13, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Vincent Sandoval / WireImage)
UNIVERSAL CITY, CA – AUGUST 11: Actress Naya Rivera arrives at the 2013 Teen Choice Awards at the Gibson Amphitheater on August 11, 2013 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire / WireImage)
JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE: The Emmy Award-nominated ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ airs every night (11:35 pm – 12:41 am Eastern Time), packed with fun comedy moments and featuring a diverse lineup of guests including celebrities, athletes, musicians, comedians, and humorous subjects of human interest. Guests for TUESDAY, JULY 30 included actor Larry David (‘Clear History’), Naya Rivera (Bud Light 50/50/1 concert event) and musical guest Backstreet Boys. (Photo by Randy Holmes / ABC via Getty Images) NAYA RIVERA, JIMMY KIMMEL
GIFFONI VALLE PIANA, ITALY – JULY 24: Naya Rivera attends the blue carpet of the Giffoni Film Festival 2013 on July 24, 2013 in Giffoni Valle Piana, Italy. (Photo by Stefania D’Alessandro / WireImage)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 30: Actress Naya Rivera and rapper Big Sean attend the 2013 BET Awards at Nokia Theater LA Live on June 30, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris / FilmMagic)
LOS ANGELES, CA – June 30: (LR) Big Sean and Naya Rivera attend the 2013 BET Awards at Nokia Plaza LA LIVE on June 30, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez / WireImage)
TORONTO, ON – JUNE 16: Naya Rivera and Big Sean arrive on the red carpet at the 2013 MuchMusic Video Awards at Bell Media headquarters on June 16, 2013 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Jag Gundu / Getty Images)
WESTWOOD, CA – MAY 20: Actress Naya Rivera and Big Sean arrive at the Los Angeles premiere of ‘The Hangover III’ at Mann’s Village Theater on May 20, 2013 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire / WireImage)
LOS ANGELES, CA – April 20: Actress Naya Rivera arrives at the 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards at JW Marriott Los Angeles on LA LIVE on April 20, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire / WireImage)
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 20: Actress Naya Rivera poses in the VIP Red Carpet Suite at the 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards hosted by Ketel One at JW Marriott Los Angeles on LA LIVE on April 20, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Charley Gallay / Getty Images photo for Ketel One)
HOLLYWOOD, CA – April 09: Rapper Big Sean (L) and actress Naya Rivera attend the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures’ And Legendary Pictures’ ’42 ‘at the TCL Chinese Theater on April 9, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Imeh Akpanudosen / Getty Images)
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On Monday, July 13, the body of the 33-year-old actor had been recovered. Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub said during a press conference that “there is no indication of foul play” and that an autopsy would be performed.
Ayub said the conditions may have played a role in what happened.
“There are many streams in the lake that appear particularly in the afternoon,” he said. “The idea may be that the boat began to drift, was not anchored, and that it gathered enough energy to get her son back to the boat, but not enough to save herself.”
Dorsey has said very little in the past few weeks, posting nothing on social media after this tragedy. “Life is about good and bad times, but with Josey it makes the bad times a little less, because a part of you will always be with us,” he said Saturday. “She will never forget where she came from. We miss you. We will always love you. I love you Meep.”
He ended his post by thanking fans and followers for arriving in the midst of the tragedy, concluding with a message of love and kindness.
“To everyone who reached out and I have not had the opportunity or simply did not respond to you … thank you all for the overwhelming love and support that you have sent us,” he added. “I’ll just say to finish, be nice to yourself, be nice to others, forgive … forget … do not hold a grudge … if you have nothing good to say, maybe try to say nothing. There is peace in Silence. Time on Earth is precious and you never know … you never know what could happen. Keep your loved ones close and value the moments you have with your loved ones. ♥ ️ “
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