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Naya Rivera's Glee Character Helped Demi Lovato With Her Sexuality

"The character you played was groundbreaking for tons of closeted (at the time) queer girls like me."

Raffy Ermac

Digital Director, Out.com

Raffy is a Los Angeles-based writer, editor, video creator, critic, and digital director of Out Magazine. The former editor-in-chief of PRIDE, he is also a die-hard Rihanna and Sailor Moon stan who loves to write about all things pop culture, entertainment, and identities. Follow him on Instagram (@raffyermac) and Twitter (@byraffy), and subscribe to his YouTube channel.

Read Full Bio

Raffy Ermac

byraffy

July 15 2020 12:45 PM EST

December 09 2022 9:12 AM EST

More and more people are paying tribute to the late actress and singer Naya Rivera after her body was recovered earlier this week following a tragic boating trip at Southern California's Lake Piru.

\u201cThis photo of the cast of #Glee gathering together at Lake Piru today where #NayaRivera\u2019s body was found is incredibly powerful \u2014 especially when you consider today is the 7 year anniversary of Cory Monteith\u2019s death. I\u2019m a mess.\u201d
— Dave Quinn (@Dave Quinn) 1594668192

One of those people sending their condolences is out pop icon Demi Lovato, who is opening up about how Naya's role as lesbian character Santana Lopez on FOX's fan-favorite musical teen dramedy series Glee helped make waves in her life—and the lives of countless other closeted queer girls who wanted to feel seen.

\u201cRIP Naya Rivera. I\u2019ll forever cherish the opportunity to play your girlfriend on Glee. The character you played was groundbreaking for tons of closeted (at the time) queer girls like me, and your ambition and accomplishments were inspiring to Latina women all over the world.\u201d
— Demi Lovato (@Demi Lovato) 1594687003

See on Instagram

"RIP Naya Rivera. I’ll forever cherish the opportunity to play your girlfriend on Glee," the 27-year-old, who publicly came out in 2017, wrote on social media tributes to her friend and former castmate. "The character you played was groundbreaking for tons of closeted queer girls (like me at the time) and open queer girls, and your ambition and accomplishments were inspiring to Latina women all over the world. My heart goes out to your loved ones at this time."

Demi played the recurring role of Dani, Santana's girlfriend while she was taking a break from Brittany (Heather Morris), on Glee's fifth (and penultimate) season from 2013-2014.

While authorities were searching for Rivera's whereabouts last week, Demi sent out words of encouragement and positivity in the hopes that she would be found.

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\u201cI don\u2019t tweet often but sometimes my tweets come true so, together let\u2019s manifest on twitter that Naya will be found safe and sound!! Come on y\u2019all! Let\u2019s put this energy out there: they will find her healthy and alive!! \ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffc\ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffc\ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffc\u201d
— Demi Lovato (@Demi Lovato) 1594341512

After days of searching, authorities found Naya's body early Monday morning. The actress was 33 years old at the time of her passing, and she leaves behind a 4-year-old son named Josey.