Naya Rivera's ex-husband posts emotional tribute following 'Glee' star's death

Naya Rivera's tragic death at the age of just 33 shocked the world and prompted an outpouring of grief after her body was discovered following an accidental drowning.

The 33-year-old rose to fame on Glee for her role as cheerleader Santana Lopez.

Now, the actress's ex-husband Ryan Dorsey, who she was married to for four years from 2014 to 2018, has publically mourned her loss for the first time in a social media post.

He wrote on Instagram: "This is so unfair... there's not enough words to express the hole left in everyone's hearts.

"I can't believe this is life now. I don't know if I'll ever believe it. You were just here... We were just in the back swimming with Josey the day before. Life just isn't fair."

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"I don't know what to say… I'm thankful for our times and our journey that brought us together and gave us the sweetest and kindest smart little boy we could ever hope for.

"Life is all about good times and bad times but with Josey it makes the bad a little less so because a part of you will always be with us. He'll never forget where he came from."

Nickayla Rivera, Naya's sister, also took to Instagram to mourn her loss, writing that she will miss her "every second of my life".

"There are no words to describe my love for you," she wrote.

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She continued: "Side by side or miles apart, our connection is infinite. Our bond is unbreakable. We were complete opposites, yet simultaneously the same. The yin to my yang. I never knew that by losing you, I would find so much of you in myself."⁣⁣

"I've never known a life without you in it & still can't imagine it. My world is turned upside down. But through it all, everything we were, we are still. I'll always look at you with the same eyes as I did when I was young.

"My shmaya, I'll love you for eternity and miss you every second of my life."

Rivera's co-stars from Glee also took to social media to praise their late costar, per the BBC.

Kevin McHale, who played Artie Abrams on the show, wrote: "She was so independent and strong and the idea of her not being here is something I cannot comprehend."

Jane Lynch, who played cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester, added: "Rest sweet, Naya. What a force you were. Love and peace to your family."