Naya Rivera’s dad went public with complaints about Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy on Tuesday, accusing him of failing to set up the promised scholarship fund for the Glee actress’ son after she died from drowning last July.
It was a promise the Glee co-creators made a day after Naya’s body was found and less than a week after she accidentally drowned at age 33, “Our hearts go out to her family, especially her mom, Yolanda, who was a big part of the Glee family and her son Josey. The three of us are currently in the process of creating a college fund for the beautiful son Naya loved most of all.”
Ryan Murphy Blasted By Fans For Failure To Fulfill His ‘Scholarship Fund’ Promise
Josey, Rivera’s son for whom the college fund would be set up, is now 5 and staying with his dad, Ryan Dorsey. Rivera and Dorsey divorced in 2018 after four years of marriage but shared joint custody of their son.
On Tuesday afternoon, several months after the promise was made, George Rivera, Naya’s father, replied to an old tweet from a woman who praised the statement from Murphy last year.
“Everyone needs to know what Ryan Murphy really did … or didn’t do!!! I’m about to blow up this story … and make sure he knows that I know,” Rivera tweeted. “Get the Glee tweeters on this!!!”
He continued in additional tweets, “When you are a part of the Hollywood elite, some people treat others like they are ‘less than’ … vocalize a good game, but it’s as shallow as the sets on stage, that they create. Promises made in public, only to fade with time and excuses… even in an unexplainable tragedy… Broken promises… fake outrage … hollow gestures … no phone call.”
Soon after, Murphy tweeted in response, “Myself, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan have committed to creating 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.”
A woman on Twitter commented on Murphy’s post, “My guess is because he [George Rivera] isn’t privy to the details. He’s not the guardian of her son, the boy’s father is. I know nothing of their relationship though. Just a guess.” To this statement, George Rivera replied, “Wrong!!”
Naya Rivera’s Father Calls For Fans To Leave Mr. Murphy Alone
In a recent development, after the Twitter battle about promises kept or broken or in the process of being kept or broken, George Rivera seems to have had a change of heart and is now calling for fans to leave Mr. Murphy alone.
It is interesting since he was the very person that called the fans to go after him in a tweet citing that Murphy hadn’t kept the promise he made to Naya’s son after her death.
After fans got the #JusticeForTheRiveraFamily trending and expressed their concern for Josey while slamming the showrunner, Naya’s father decided to conclude the online battle in a tweet he made on Wednesday, “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.”
He also added a second request, “DO NOT DONATE to any cause w/ Naya’s name unless Rivera’s family endorses it.”
To this latest tweet, Ryan has not yet responded.