Amber Riley responds to criticism over her silence on Naya Rivera's disappearance

Naya Rivera’s disappearance has led to many of her coworkers getting attacked online for not expressing their grief publicly or doing enough to help with the recovery. 

Amber Riley, her costar from Glee has stepped forth to hit out at all those criticizing her and other stars of the show for keeping mum about Rivera and not doing enough.

“Show some respect,” she began and went on to say: “All our energy is going toward helping find Naya and praying for her safe return and for her family.”

“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,” she added.

Earlier on Sunday, Heather Morris who worked with Rivera on Glee and was also a close friend of the actor turned to Twitter and requested the Ventura County Sherrif’s Office to allow her to join the search as well.

"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," she said in response to an update posted by the officials about the search operation.

"I understand your team is doing EVERYTHING in their power, but we are feeling helpless, powerless and want to help in any way. I have left a message with the department of Rescue and Air today, and I will call again tomorrow. Thank you,” she added.

Rivera, 33, went missing after a boat ride last week on Wednesday with her son. Her four-year-old was found unaccompanied on a boat telling people how his mother had gone for a swim but never came back.

Officer Chris Dyer of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office said earlier: "We're presuming that an accident happened, we're presuming that she drowned in the lake. There are no signs of foul play, no signs that anything went wrong, besides a tragic accident."

The cast of Glee has been hit with a number of tragedies and scandals previously as well. Cory Monteith who essayed the role of Finn Hudson on the show was found dead at age 31 in 2013 after an apparent drug overdose. Mark Sallinger who portrayed Noah Puckerman reportedly took his own life in 2018 at the age of 35 after he was found guilty of being in possession of child pornography.