Naya Rivera’s Glee castmates pay tribute after body was found

Naya Rivera’s Glee castmates led tributes to the actress after police confirmed that a body pulled from Lake Piru on Monday is indeed the 33-year-old just six days after she vanished.

Glee star Jane Lynch was the first to pay her respects as she took to Twitter on Monday morning to write:  ‘Rest sweet, Naya. What a force you were. Love and peace to your family.’

They both starred on the Fox series from 2009 to 2015; Naya as cheerleader Santana Lopez and 59-year-old Lynch as coach Sue Sylvester. Lea Michele. Amber Riley and Kevin McHale also posted heartfelt messages to their ‘sweet’ and ‘stupidly talented’ friend.

Respect: Jane Lynch was the first to pay her respects as she took to Twitter on Monday morning to write: ‘Rest sweet, Naya. What a force you were. Love and peace to your family’

Squad: They both starred on the Fox series from 2009 to 2015; Naya as cheerleader Santana Lopez and 59-year-old Lynch as coach Sue Sylvester

The actress’s family rushed to the lake on Monday morning and some of her Glee castmates, including Heather Morris, were also there. 

Max Adler, who played football player Dav Karofsky, continued the social media tributes as he posted several broken heart and crying emojis. 

Joshua Sussman – who portrayed Jacob Ben Israel in the  Fox series – wrote: ‘[Broken heart emoji] Naya, you will be missed so much [sad face emoji]’

Bond: Some of Rivera’s Glee castmates went to the lake on Monday morning after authorities recovered a body. They held hands on the shore while waiting for confirmation of the identity of the body

Sad: Authorities carry the body from a boat on Monday morning to be taken for formal identification 

Downtrodden: Lynch was seen on a solo outing in Los Angeles on Monday

Errand trip: The comedienne was seen on the caffeine run but did not seem to be in attendance with her Glee co-stars at Lake Piru 

After news broke that Naya’s body had been recovered from the lake, Lea Michele returned to social media to pay tribute to her late co-star.

She posted a black and white snap of Rivera in one of her Glee costumes to Instagram Story.

Michele did not write any words but went on to share another black and white snap of some of the Glee cast looking out over a beach.

Confirmation of Rivera’s death came on the seventh anniversary of the death of Cory Monteith, Glee star and Michele’s real-life love who was found dead of a drugs and alcohol overdose in a hotel room in Vancouver, B.C., on July 13, 2013.

Michele honors Monteith each year and began her montage of photos on Instagram Story with a black and white photo of the actor posing against the backdrop of New York City. 

Tribute: After news broke that Naya’s body had been recovered from the lake, Lea Michele returned to social media to pay tribute to her late co-star. She posted a black and white snap of Rivera in one of her Glee costumes to Instagram Story

Memories: Michele did not write any words but went on to share another black and white snap of some of the Glee cast looking out over a beach

Lost love: Confirmation of Rovera’s death came on the seventh anniversary of the death of Cory Monteith and Michele shared a black and white photo of the actor posing against the backdrop of New York City

Meanwhile, Glee actor Kevin McHale revealed in a tweet Monday night that he believes Monteith played a part in leading searchers to the actress on the seventh anniversary of his own passing.

Searchers discovered Rivera after an extensive six-day search at the remote lake outside of Los Angeles.

‘I’m not religious by any means, but you’d be hard-pressed to convince me that Cory didn’t help find our girl today,’ McHale tweeted.

He went on: ‘These 2, in many ways, were the male and female versions of one another. So nice, cared deeply, were stupidly talented, the most fun, and really really good people.’

Unseen forces: Kevin McHale tweeted Monday he believes Cory Monteith, pictured left filming Glee, played a part in leading searchers to the body of Naya Rivera, pictured right, on the seventh anniversary of his own passing from an accidental overdose

No coincidence: McHale, 32, said Monteith and Rivera were ‘the male and female versions of one another’ 

In memoriam: He said Rivera’s ‘most natural talent of all was being a mother’ to her four-year-son Josey, whom she shared with ex-husband Ryan Dorsey

In a touching tribute to Rivera, McHale praised his late co-star for her ‘quick-witted’ actions in making sure to save her son Josey, four, before herself.

‘The way that she loved her boy, it was truly Naya at her most peaceful,’ he wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post. ‘I’m thankful that Naya got that beautiful little boy back on that boat.’

He added: ‘I’m thankful he will have a strong family around him to protect him and tell him about his incredible mom.’

Felt her loss: : McHale praised ‘quick-witted’ Rivera for saving her ‘beautiful little boy’ from drowning in a heartfelt social media tribute

A day prior, Rivera’s co-star Amber Patrice Riley took to Twitter to urge her followers to show some respect for Naya’s family and friends.

She wrote: ‘Show some respect. All our energy is going toward helping find Naya and praying for her safe return and for her family. No one owes anyone online a performance of grief. This is very real and devastating. Focus on Naya and her family. Not us. We don’t matter right now.’ 

Amber who played Mercedes Jones on Glee later paid tribute to Rivera in a touching Instagram post. She called her castmate her ‘favorite duet partner’ and promised to look after her family.

The post also included a heartbreaking video of Rivera singing the children’s song  Skidamarink with her son Josey. 

‘Show some respect’: A day prior, Rivera’s co-star Amber Patrice Riley took to Twitter to urge her followers to show some respect for Naya’s family and friends

Duet partner: Amber also called Naya her ‘favorite duet partner’ in an Instagram post that included a video clip of Naya singing the children’s song Skidamarink with her son Josey

Jenna Ushkowitz, who played Tina Cohen-Chang on Glee, posted a lengthy statement about Naya, writing in part, ‘There are no words and yet so many things I want to say, I don’t believe I’ll ever be able to articulate exactly what I feel but… Naya, you were a [lightning] force. 

She continued: ‘Everyone who got to be around you knew it and felt the light and joy you exuded when you walked into a room. You shined on stage and screen and radiated with love behind closed doors.’

‘I was lucky enough to share so many laughs, martinis and secrets with you. I can not believe I took for granted that you’d always be here,’ Jenna wrote. ‘Our friendship went in waves as life happens and we grow, so I will not look back and regret but know I love you and promise to help the legacy of your talent, humor, light and loyalty live on.’

She concluded: ‘You are so loved. You deserved the world and we will make sure Josey and your family feel that everyday. I miss you already.’  

A force: Jenna Ushkowitz, who played Tina Cohen-Chang on Glee, posted a lengthy statement about Naya, writing in part, ‘There are no words and yet so many things I want to say, I don’t believe I’ll ever be able to articulate exactly what I feel but… Naya, you were a [lightning] force 

Devastated: Max Adler, who played football player Dav Karofsky, continued the social media tributes as he posted several broken heart and crying emojis

Thinking of her: Joshua Sussman – who portrayed Jacob Ben Israel in the Fox series – wrote: ‘[Broken heart emoji] Naya, you will be missed so much [sad face emoji]’

Other celebs paid tribute including Pretty Little Liars star Janel Parrish who wrote: ‘Rest In Peace and power, Naya [sad face and broken heart emojis]’  

The Ventura County Sheriff Twitter announced the grim discovery on Twitter, saying: ‘A body has been found at Lake Piru this morning. ‘The recovery is in progress.’

Rivera vanished on Wednesday on Lake Piru after taking a pontoon boat out on the water with her four-year-old son Josey.

Josey was later found alone, sleeping on the boat, by another group who noticed it drifting.

Thoughts and prayers: Other celebs paid tribute including Pretty Little Liars star Janel Parrish who wrote: ‘Rest In Peace and power, Naya [sad face and broken heart emojis]’

Search and rescue teams have spent the last six days combing the lake for traces of the actress but struggled against poor visibility and the sheer size of the lake. 

On Monday, they honed in on a cove where the actress had taken a photograph of Josey and sent it to a relative 90 minutes before he was found on the boat.

They focused their search on that cove on Monday.

The actress grew up 20 miles from the lake and was familiar with it, police sources said last week. 

Paying tribute: Kristin Chenweth paid tribute to Naya with a photo of the star and her son, along with the caption, ‘Thank you for what you gave the world. I love you’ 

‘You are now a beautiful angel’: Tia Mowry remembered her long-time friend and recalled stories of their fun nights out

In her thoughts: Lucy Hale sent her love to Naya’s family and fans including her ‘sweet little boy’

Loved: Other stars including Mandy Moore called the tragedy ‘absolutely heartbreaking’ in social media posts

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office released CCTV footage showing Naya Rivera and her four-year-old son arriving at the dock on Lake Piru on Wednesday

The pair climbed onto their pontoon boat rental before heading out into the lake at around 1pm 

She thought of it as her ‘sanctuary’, despite it being known for rip currents and icy waters that can overpower swimmers. 

On Sunday, Naya’s distraught family were seen at the lake trying to assist investigators in their search for her.

Josey told police that his mother ‘jumped in’ and never came back up to the surface.

He was wearing a life jacket but the actress’s was on the pontoon when it was recovered.

‘There was a picture sent to a family member that showed the boy on the boat by a cove. We found where that cove was,’ Robert Inglis of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Search & Rescue Team told Us Weekly.

He previously said: ‘What I suspect is that the winds kicked up.

Naya Rivera’s father George Rivera sat alongside his former son-in-law, Jose’s father Ryan Dorsey, on Sunday as search teams continued to look for her

This diagram shows where Naya Rivera and her son rented a boat on Lake Piru before the four-year-old was seen alone. The map in the top left shows the location of the lake in relation to Los Angeles where Rivera lives 

‘Those pontoon boats are very light, and when you push them, it can get away from you. She might’ve tried to swim after the boat. But that’s all speculation. Once we do locate her, that’ll answer a lot more questions.’

Police have not shared the image and it’s unclear which cove it was taken in. Over the weekend, they asked members of the public not to go looking for the star themselves in the dangerous water.

The actress’s father George on Sunday appeared to help co-ordinate the hunt for his missing daughter after police confirmed ‘nothing came’ of their search of cabins along Lake Piru.

Remembering her: Darren Criss, who starred with Naya on Glee, shared his own thoughts on her death in a moving Twitter thread; pictured in 2013

Voice of an angel: He added that he ‘always loved her voice, and savored every chance I got to hear her sing’

Darren Criss, who starred with Naya on Glee, shared his own thoughts on her death in a Twitter thread.

‘She was bold. She was outrageous. She was a LOT of fun,’ he wrote. ‘Naya made me laugh like no one else on that set. I always said it while we were working together and I’ve maintained it ever since. Her playful, wicked sense of humor never ceased to bring a smile to my face.’

He added that he ‘always loved her voice, and savored every chance I got to hear her sing.’

‘I think she had more talent than we would have ever been able to see,’ he wrote.

‘I was constantly moved by the degree to which she took care of her family, and how she looked out for her friends. She showed up for me on numerous occasions where she didn’t have to, and I was always so grateful for her friendship then, as I certainly am now.

‘And even as I sit here, struggling to comprehend, gutted beyond description- the very thought of her cracks me up and still brings a smile to my face. That was Naya’s gift. And it’s a gift that will never go away. Rest in peace you wild, hilarious, beautiful angel,’ he finished.

Inspired: Demi Lovato shared a sweet photo of herself with the late star. She said Naya was ‘groundbreaking for tons of closeted queer girls (like me at the time)’ and said she was ‘inspiring to Latina women all over the world’

Taking flight: Jenna Dewan remembered Naya with a photo of her cradling her son Josey. ‘Fly with the angels Naya…’ she wrote

Stepping up: ‘Naya was loved by everyone on the Step Up set. She will be so missed,’ she continued

Saying goodbye: Nina Dobrev remembered her friend with a photo of the two together. ‘RIP,’ she wrote, adding a broken-hearted emoji

Praying: ‘Heartbroken and devastated about this. Praying for Naya’s loved ones,’ wrote Hailey Bieber after reposting a photo from Viola Davis

Sorrowful: Bebe Rexha was also drawn to the same aching image. She captioned it, ‘Heartbreaking RIP’

Thoughts and prayers: Khloé Kardashian tweeted that she was ‘sorry/heartbroken for Nayas friends and family’ and said she would pray for them

Selfless: Madison Beer saluted Naya for spending ‘her final moments saving her sons life and getting him back on the boat’ and called her a ‘selfless loving mother’

Actress Yara Shahidi said she was ‘heartbroken’ over Rivera’s death