On July 8, 2020, Naya Rivera disappeared during a boat trip with her son Josey Dorsey at Lake Piru in California. As investigators searched for her whereabouts, tributes from her loved ones poured in, including a heartfelt Instagram post from her ex-boyfriend, actor Tahj Mowry.
The former Smart Guy star (and Tia and Tamera’s brother) wrote he was “holding onto hope” that Naya would be found but said he was devastated by her disappearance. He went on to say they grew up together and experienced so many things together. He wrote, “You were my first experience with everything; love, intimacy, heartbreak. We broke each other’s hearts and then mended them back together…more than once. I will never not think of you.”
Many people were surprised to hear that Tahj and Naya were even a thing because they assumed her Glee co-star Mark Salling and rapper Big Sean were her only high-profile relationships. But in fact, Naya and Tahj both spoke extensively about their time together.
Here’s what we were able to find out about Naya Rivera and Tahj Mowry’s private relationship.
How Naya Rivera met Tahj Mowry
In her 2016 memoir entitled, Sorry Not Sorry, Naya revealed she met Tahj on a print shoot when they were four-years-old. Their moms became friends and, eventually, she and Tahj began dating. He also hooked Naya up with a role on Smart Guy (pictured, above).
In an interview with Vice, Tahj said their families were very close, so his relationship with Naya was “almost like an arranged marriage.”
Their first date
With their chaperones in tow, they went on their first date to watch a Denzel Washington movie. Naya wrote that she experienced many firsts with Tahj, including her first kiss, which took place at the movie theater with their moms sitting right in front of them. Tahj also escorted her to her first red carpet event at the NAACP Image Awards.
She was close to his sisters Tia & Tamera
On July 13, 2020, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Naya’s body had been recovered at the lake. Following the devastating news, Tahj’s sister Tia Mowry opened up in an Instagram post about her relationship with the fellow actress.
Tia wrote that Naya “quickly became family” and Naya was the one who helped Tia and her twin sister Tamera find a place to live after their parents kicked them out. Tia also shared memories about hitting up Los Angeles nightclubs together and working on the same production lots. Tia ended her message with: “I love you. Your smile will always be the most beautiful smile. Rest my love. You are now a beautiful angel.”
Tamera shared an equally beautiful post about how much Naya means to her. “I’m so grateful to have been blessed with your presence for over 20 years,” she wrote. “You took my breath away and always will. Another angel has gained her wings.”
Naya Rivera and Tahj Mowry were on-again-off-again
In her memoir, Naya made sure to refer to Tahj as her “almost-boyfriend” since they were on and off for so many years. However, in his April 2020 interview with Vice, Tahj made it clear that he felt differently about their relationship. “She’ll say it was just a kid thing, but I think differently,” he said.
According to Tahj, they dated three times in total, with “the last time” being sometime around the age of 20-23. He added, “Third time wasn’t the charm, but I wish her the best.”
In her memoir, Naya stated Tahj was the one who finally ended it for good. “He thought he needed to date someone more on his financial level,” she wrote, before jokingly writing, “D**k. We’re still friends.”
Tahj hoped they would get back together
After news of Naya’s disappearance sent shockwaves through the industry, Tahj took to his Instagram to reveal his true feelings. “I’ve never liked to admit it but I have never stopped loving you,” he wrote, before adding he “wished for the day” when God would bring them back together so they could be what they always wished they could have been.
We send our condolences to Naya’s family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time.