Naya Rivera's ex-husband Ryan Dorsey pays tribute to the late actress on Mother's Day

Naya Rivera’s ex-husband Ryan Dorsey has paid tribute to the late actress with a touching Mother’s Day post.

The actor, 37, posted a photo of the Glee actress spending quality time with their son Josey Hollis, five, at an ice cream parlor.

‘We can’t say the word happy but we’ll say thank you for being a mother & giving me this sweet amazing boy,’ Ryan captioned the photo.

Naya was just 33-years-old when she tragically drowned during a boating trip with her son at Lake Piru last year.

Remembrance: Ryan Dorsey paid tribute to his late ex-wife Naya Rivera by sharing an image of her with the couple’s son Josey to his Instagram account on Sunday morning

Naya and Rivera remained on good terms after finalizing their divorce in 2018. 

Twere first romantically connected in 2010 when they briefly dated but eventually broke up due to the performer’s lifestyle.

Prior to becoming involved with the Justified actor, the actress was involved with Tahj Mowry, who wrote a tribute to his former girlfriend shortly after her passing.

Serious sentiment: The actor also wrote a brief message in the post’s caption where he thanked his deceased former spouse ‘for being a mother & giving me this sweet amazing boy’; the two are pictured in 2014

On-off couple: Dorsey and Rivera briefly dated in 2010 and broke up before eventually reconnecting and getting married; they are seen in 2014 

The Step Up star also briefly dated her Glee co-star Mark Salling, although they maintained a rocky relationship and separated after two years. 

Rivera went on to begin seeing rapper Big Sean, who broke the news about their connection in April of 2013.

The former couple would go on to announce their engagement in October of the following year but eventually split up the following April. 

After the end of their relationship, the rapper released a single entitled I Don’t F*** With You, which was seen by many as a diss track aimed at Rivera, although the performer eventually expressed regret for penning the song.

Not mincing words: Rivera was previously engaged to Big Sean, although they later broke up and he wrote a diss track that many interpreted as being aimed at the actress; the two are pictured in 2013

Following her split with the songwriter, Dorsey reconnected with his former flame, and they went on to tie the knot at a 2014 wedding in Mexico.

Shortly after they rekindled their romance, Rivera informed her husband that she had an abortion shortly after they originally split in 2010, with the actor reportedly remaining supportive of his wife’s decision. 

The two went on to welcome their son in 2015 and separated the following November only to both reconcile and re-file for divorce in 2017.

That year, the actress was arrested and charged with domestic battery after allegedly hitting Dorsey in the head, although the actor requested to have the charges dropped.

Going strong: Dorsey and Rivera welcomed their son Josey Hollis in 2015, although they separated the following year and finalized their divorce in 2018; they are seen together in 2016

The two finalized their divorce in 2018 and agreed to split custody of their son, currently aged five, with an adjustment to their agreement being made in 2020.

Rivera disappeared in July of last year while spending time with Josey at Lake Piru in Ventura County, California, where she regularly decamped to relax.

Dorsey joined her relatives during the search effort for the actress, and her body was eventually found by a team of divers, with the cause of death being given as accidental drowning.

Many of her past co-stars paid tribute to the actress after her passing, and her ex-husband kept quiet about the situation until after her funeral.

Joining in: Dorsey assisted with the search efforts after Rivera disappeared last July at Lake Piru, where her body was eventually found; they are seen in 2015