Ryan Dorsey, the 41-year-old actor and part-time philosopher of heartache, has shared a touching—and poetically emotional—tribute to his late ex-wife, Naya Rivera, on what would have been her 38th birthday. If Instagram were a stage, this would be Shakespeare, but make it 2025.
Taking to the gram on January 12, Ryan dropped a post that was equal parts heartfelt and heavy, because apparently, healing requires rhymes now. Let’s break this down:
“🤍. Happy Heavenly Birthday. 🤍” he began, setting the mood like a guy lighting candles before telling you the Wi-Fi is out. “Five birthdays since you’ve been gone. Thoughts every day about how it went wrong.” (Cue the collective “Oof” heard ’round the internet.)
Then, things got introspective:
“Memories attached to places, still see all the things, see all our faces,” he wrote, painting a mental picture that’s basically Instagram Stories from 15 years ago—except with more feels and fewer dog-ear filters. “Visions of happiness and sadness, 15 years flash by when I hear a certain song.” (Is anyone else wondering if it’s Single Ladies or something ridiculously ironic?)
But wait, there’s more:
“I shake my head often still in disbelief. They say time heals all, but all is not grief,” he continued, because apparently, time’s been taking its sweet time with this healing business. “Doing the best I can for our JoJo Binx”—which, BTW, is the most adorable nickname ever for their son, Josey. Ryan adds that he’s often alone, sitting and thinking. A lot. (Probably more than is healthy, Ryan—call a buddy!)
Then came the gut-punch finale:
“I think more of our better times, like this picture from the past, but it still f**king stings.” (Mood.) “So give Emmy and Lucy one good rub, and if you’re reading this, be kind to the ones you love. You’ll never know when you give your last hug.” (Cue the global ugly cry. BRB, texting everyone I know to say I love them.)
For context: Ryan and Naya had a love story that could rival a Netflix drama. They dated briefly in 2010, then hit the sequel button in 2014 and got married. The pair welcomed their son Josey Hollis, now 9, before their story took a tragic turn when Naya passed away in 2020.
Ryan, we see you. Keep doing the best you can, and thanks for the reminder to hug the people we love a little tighter—even if it’s our pets named Emmy and Lucy.