'RHOA' Star NeNe Leakes Breaks Silence On 'Glee' Co-Star Naya Rivera's Death
By Whitney Vasquez on July 13, 2020 at 1:50 PM EDT
NeNe Leakes is mourning the loss of her dear friend and "Glee" co-star Naya Rivera. The 52-year-old "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star took to social media moments ago after learning the body that rescuers found in the water of Lake Piru has been confirmed to the 33-year-old. Naya Rivera disappeared without a trace on Wednesday, July 8 while swimming in the lake with her four-year-old son. Her toddler was found on the boat alone and informed police that his mom vanished in the water and never came back up.
It took five days of searching, but Ventura Sherrif's office confirmed that the body they found is the "Glee" actress. In a tweet, authorities revealed, "Sheriff Ayub has confirmed the body recovered at Lake Piru today was Naya Rivera."
Adding, their "hearts go out to her family, friends and fans during this difficult time," they stated that "an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of her death." Moments ago, NeNe Leakes addressed the news of Naya Rivera's death.
Scroll to see NeNe's tribute to Naya.
The news conference has concluded. Sheriff Ayub has confirmed the body recovered at Lake Piru today was Naya Rivera. Our hearts go out to her family, friends and fans during this difficult time. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of her death.
— Ventura County Sheriff (@VENTURASHERIFF) July 13, 2020
Posting several photos of them together during their time on "Glee," NeNe Leakes wrote, "I was praying for a miracle! I wanted you to come home to your baby so bad. This hurts!" Reminiscing about working together on set, the "RHOA" star promised she will always "hold the memories close to my heart and remember the good times, the laughs and the way we would cut up on set." She then asked for prayers for Naya Rivera's family, whose emotions were too much to bear at the search site for their daughter over the weekend.
Hours before Ventura Sheriff's revealed the news that they found a body at Lake Piru on Monday morning, NeNe Leakes spoke out about Naya Rivera's disappearance and prayed for a miracle. Sharing a clip starring Naya Rivera from season six of "RHOA," NeNe Leakes addressed fans who wondered why it's taken her days to speak out.
"I don’t know what to say!" she told her fans. Adding this whole situation has been "so unreal to me," NeNe Leakes asked God to "please bring Naya home safe." Naya Rivera was just 33 years old.
