Lea Michele deletes Twitter after being trolled over Naya Rivera's disappearance

13 July 2020, 11:58

By Sophie Thompson

Lea Michele has deleted Twitter after online hate linked to Glee co-star Naya Rivera's disappearance. Naya was last seen on a boat at Lake Piru before going missing, when her son was found sleeping alone.

Lea Michele has deleted Twitter after being bullied over Glee co-star Naya Rivera's disappearance.

As searches for Naya, known for playing Santana Lopez in the hit musical series, enter their fifth day, fans and friends are desperately seeking answers about what happened to her. The 33-year-old was last seen on California's Lake Piru on a boat with her four year old son before disappearing into the water. Nobody yet knows what happened following that.

But despite pleas to keep the actress and her family in our thoughts, trolls have used it as an opportunity to attack Lea Michele - whom Naya was previously rumoured to have feuded with.

Lea, who has recently been called out for allegedly using racial microagressions while on set, has had to take the extreme measures of deleting her account all together.

"Lea Michele deactivated because people were commenting on her posts 'it should've been you instead of Naya'" one Twitter user shared.

Another wrote, "Lea Michele has deactivated her Twitter due to be being trolled about Naya Rivera. Has she behaved badly in the past? Yes. She's owned it and is trying to be better. She's also pregnant. Is it her fault that Naya's missing? No. I'm sure she's as upset as the rest of the Glee cast."

Co-star Amber Riley has since responded, and while she didn't mention any names, there were a lot of guesses that the tweet was in response to Lea.

"Show some respect. All our energy is going toward helping find Naya and praying for her safe return and for her family," she wrote. "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."

Heather Morris, who played Naya's love interest, Brittany Pierce, has publicly asked Ventura County Sheriff's Office if she can join the search for her friend.

In a heartbreaking tweet, she said: "My name is Heather Morris, I'm Nayas close friend and co-worker, and I'm trying to conduct an on foot search and rescue mission along with a small group of friends at Lake Piru."

"I understand your team is doing EVERYTHING in their power, but we are feeling helpless, powerless and want to help in any way."

Other cast mates including Jenna Ushkowitz and Chord Overstreet have sent their prayers, and everyone is keeping Naya firmly in their thoughts.