Naya Rivera's Dad Breaks Silence On Daughter Nickayla, Ryan Dorsey Relationship Rumors

Naya Rivera's father, George Rivera, has addressed the speculations about his daughter Nickayla's relationship with the actress' ex-husband, Ryan Dorsey.

Nikayla and the actor raised some eyebrows after they moved into a three-bedroom rented house together in California to raise Naya and Dorsey's son, Josey, following the "Glee" star's death in July 2020. Dorsey previously shared that Josey asked Nickayla to move in with them and thanked Nickayla for putting her life on hold to help care for her nephew.

In a recent interview, George said he wasn't bothered by the rumors surrounding Nickayla and Dorsey's relationship because he knew they were doing the best thing for his grandson.

"I'm used to paparazzi, not me myself, but I'm used to hearing about the paparazzi," Naya and Nickayla's father told Entertainment Tonight.

"I'm used to hearing about people’s opinions and if you're going to sit and let any people's opinions guide any kind of decisions for you, I don't know if you've got the inner strength to either be in the business or do something right, so that didn't bother me at all because we knew we were doing the right thing, and that's what we did," he explained.

George said he has not spoken to Dorsey but praised Naya's ex-husband for being a good dad to Josey.

"You learn a lot about people and you learn a lot about relationships when you go through something like this and I couldn't thank Ryan enough for the father he has become," he shared. "I have always had respect for Ryan. I have always thought that he was a stand-up guy and my opinion is ... I'm just more proud of him now than I ever would have been through this period."

George also praised Nickayla, who works as a model, for stepping up for her nephew. He went on to highlight Nickayla's love for her late big sister.

"Nickayla is an amazing individual, she has got a lot of love for her sister, very close," George said of his younger daughter. "Again, we talk about pride as a father, really, it's not about modeling, it's not about acting ... it's about what type of person you are. That's what it shows me, what type of person she is -- very strong and resilient, right, that's what you have to be. You have to understand, we have to overcome some things, do the best you can with what you have."

Nickayla previously addressed the speculations over her relationship with Dorsey in a post on her Instagram Story in September 2020. At the time, she asked everyone to show compassion as she goes through the "darkest time" in her life.

"In the darkest time of my life, the only thing that is important is my friends & family. Showing up for my nephew, even though I can't show up for myself," she wrote. "Im not concerned with the way things look because no one can see each agonizing moment we all endure. What matters most I've learned, is to show compassion, not to judge others, & never take a moment of life for granted. I hope you all can do the same."

Naya died of accidental drowning during a boating trip with her son at Lake Piru northwest of Los Angeles on July 8, 2020.