The Untold Truth Of Heather Morris

UPDATE: On July 13, 2020, the Ventura County Sheriff's Office confirmed Naya Rivera's body has been recovered at Lake Piru. In a press conference, Sheriff Bill Ayub said, "We are confident the body we found is that of Naya Rivera."

The original story follows below.

In the wake of Naya Rivera's tragic disappearance, many stars are sharing heartfelt messages – Rivera's former Glee castmate Heather Morris is no different. On the afternoon of July 8, 2020, Rivera went missing while boating with her young son, Josey, on Lake Piru in Southern California. In light of her former co-star's disappearance, Morris took to Instagram to ask fans for prayers. "We need all the prayers we can get to bring our Naya back home to us," Morris wrote in an Instagram Story (via US Weekly). "We need your love and light."

Rivera and Morris appeared on Glee together from 2009 to 2015, becoming dear friends off-screen along the way. They played fan-favorite cheerleading couple Santana Lopez and Brittany Pierce, respectively, on the Fox series, with fans nicknaming the relationship "Brittana." The actresses' characters wed during the final season of the show.

As of this writing, Morris is still "holding on to hope," according to a statement issued exclusively to E! News on July 9, 2020.

"It's so hard to wrap your head around something unknown," Heather said. "I'm holding on to hope that the rescuers will bring Naya home in a swift and speedy recovery. I know she would remind me in moments like this that God has a plan for everything and although we may not know that that plan is, we need to keep our chin up and stay strong."

Here's what fans may not know about Naya Rivera's former co-star and longtime friend Heather Morris.

While on Glee, Heather Morris appeared in a few films and shorts, including 2012's Spring Breakers. She also voiced a character in 2012's Ice Age: Continental Drift. Though the actress hasn't been involved in too many major projects since Glee wrapped — she's popped up on a few television shows here and there — Morris did compete on Dancing with the Stars in 2017. Naya Rivera cheered her on the whole way.

"I feel like Heather's got some big shoes to fill," Rivera told People in a March 2017 interview, alluding to the fact that Amber Riley, another Glee star, had previously won the reality TV dance competition. "But I'm not worried about her because she's a fantastic performer and a great dancer. I think she's going to bring so much fun to the show. I'm excited!" Another reason Rivera probably wasn't worried about her friend knocking it out of the park? Morris was a one-time Beyoncé back-up dancer.

Morris has supported Rivera over the years as well, expressing her excitement to Entertainment Tonight in 2015 when news broke that Rivera was expecting. "I'm just excited because now my baby has a friend." Morris, who shares two sons with husband Taylor Hubbell, told the outlet.

Prior to Rivera's disappearance in July 2020, Morris made headlines for taking to social media to talk about another Glee alum.

In June 2020, Heather Morris spoke out against Lea Michele in the wake of racism allegations directed at the star. Another former Glee star, Samantha Marie Ware, made waves when she tweeted about Michele's alleged racist behavior on set, claiming that the actress, who starred on the show as Rachel Berry, "made [her] first television gig a living hell" that made her "made [her] question a career in Hollywood."

Many other stars piled on to the growing criticism, including Morris. "... [W]as she unpleasant to work with? Very much so," the actress wrote in a June 2020 Twitter note, adding, "for Lea to treat others with the disrespect that she did for as long as she did, I believe she SHOULD be called out." It's clear that Morris isn't afraid to speak up, whether its about past cruelty on the Glee set or a message of hope for her missing friend. 

Our thoughts are with Naya Rivera's family and friends during this difficult time.

If you feel like you need a resource after reading sensitive subject matter, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, or call the National Alliance on Mental Illness Helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264).