Heather Morris shares emotional video about on-screen relationship with Naya Rivera
"I have been feeling very heavy lately," she said.
Heather Morris spoke about her grief after losing her close friend and former co-star Naya Rivera last month.
The actress who played Rivera's love interest, Brittany, on "Glee," shared a video in which she spoke about the importance of her on-screen relationship with Rivera and her gratitude for fans' support during this time.
"I have been feeling very heavy lately," she said. "I've been feeling this aching in my heart to connect with my fans, to connect with everybody who's been feeling a little lost, a little confused during this time."
"I don't need to explain what the importance of Santana and Brittany's relationship was to all of you who are watching because most of you felt like it was your gateway into your current life," she continued. "Most of you felt like it was an inspiration to become your best self, and I want you to know that that was never lost on me. It was never lost on Naya."
She said that she and Rivera knew how special and impactful their characters' love story was.
"I really felt it a lot later with all the messages and all the people reaching out and I knew the writers also knew that as well," Morris shared. "They were basically writing for the fans. But I felt a really deep need to connect to all of you right now because I just know how important our relationship was to you all."
The actress added that she realizes many of the show's supporters are feeling "very lost and very far away" after Rivera's death and said that this feeling is "completely normal."
She said she felt compelled to share the message because she believes the fans heavily influenced their characters' story line. "I want to thank you all for being such advocates and so supportive of Santana and Brittany's relationship -- because without you guys, it never would have existed," she said.
She urged everyone listening to remember that "grief looks different on everybody" and "to be gentle and kind to yourself during this time."
The actress previously shared a post featuring photos of her sons, Owen, 4, and Elijah, 6, playing with Rivera's 4-year-old son Josey because she knew that Rivera's son "meant more than anything" to her.
Rivera died on July 8th after she accidentally drowned while swimming in California's Lake Piru.
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