Heather Morris vows to ‘do something every day to honor’ Naya Rivera

Heather Morris has vowed to ‘do something every day to honor’ Naya Rivera. 

The Glee alum has paid tribute to her late co-star and on-screen wife after she tragically died in a drowning accident at Lake Piru, California, last week, by promising to keep taking part in daily activities that help her ‘feel close’ to Naya. 

‘The messages are going to trickle out. But you’re still here with me. And I’m not done remembering your legacy,’ Heather, 33, wrote in a sweet Instagram message.

Heather recalled: ‘You would tell me “you look so skinny” EVERY TIME you saw me and it made me giggle slash I loved it and when I told you how it made me feel…you said “well I’d always like to hear that I look skinny so I make sure to make others feel good like that.”‘ 

She noted sadly: ‘We had a play date in the works for this week and I can’t wait for it to be over so I can stop thinking about how I missed our chance to be together.’

Heather went on: ‘I f****** loved how you drank martini’s and no one would know you smoked cuz you were a mastermind at hiding it. I’m doing something everyday to honor your strength and it helps me to feel close to you. I love you Nay.’

Naya went missing July 8 after taking her four-year-old son Josey for a boat ride on Lake Piru. Josey was discovered sleeping on the boat but his mother had vanished.

Her body was recovered from the lake five days after her disappearance and the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office said her death was a case of accidental drowning, with no indication of alcohol or drugs being involved.

Earlier this week, Heather posted an Instagram album showing her own two sons Elijah, six, and Owen, four with Naya’s beloved Josey.

The album was accompanied by another tribute to Naya, where she thanked the late star for teaching her what it was like to have a ‘consistent and loving friend.’ 

She wrote at the time: ‘We started out as the closest friends and then like all new things, we went through a bit of a rocky phase. However, we stuck by each other’s side and created the most beautiful friendship built out of love and understanding …’

Heather added: ‘We vowed to spend every Easter together, even though Covid stole this last one from us. You are and always will be the strongest and most resilient human being I know, and I vowed to carry that with me as I continue to live my life.’

She continued: ‘You constantly taught me lessons about grief, about beauty and poise, about being strong, resilient and about not giving a f*** (but still somehow respectful).

Yet, the utmost important lesson I learned most of all from you was being a consistent and loving friend. You were the first to check in, the first to ask questions, the first to listen … you cherished our friendship and I never took that for granted.’