Naya Rivera to Be Written Out of GLEE Finale; Has 'Nothing to Do with Lea Michele'

By: Apr. 30, 2014
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Yesterday, New York's Daily News reported that Glee star Naya Rivera had been fired from the FOX musical dramedy due to an on-going feud with co-star Lea Michele. Later in the day, Rivera's rep denied the report, calling it "absolutely untrue."

Today, E! News reports exclusively that Rivera will not be a part of Glee's fifth season finale, and her future on the show has not yet been decided. Sources also maintain that the situation has "nothing to do with Lea Michele."

Though the original plan was to include Naya in the final episode of the season, slated for May 13, her character Santana Lopez has been written out of the script, E! was told by multiple sources. (Fox is not commenting.) Insiders point out that this change has nothing whatsoever to do with Lea Michele, nor the recent rumors of a falling out-and tension on set-between the two starlets.

"[Naya] isn't fired and her not being in the finale has nothing to do with Lea," says one source who works on Glee. "I don't know where these stories are coming from, but they are not true."

It has not been decided yet whether Naya will return for Glee's sixth and final season, slated to air this fall. The full cast won't be determined officially until end of June. "We love Naya and want only the best for her," says one insider who works on the show. "Hopefully we can work it out." "We all needed a moment," The Insider adds, saying that the break is "best for everyone."

Naya's character Santana was supposed to share a number in the finale with co-stars Heather Morris and Amber Riley, we are told, but that storyline and song have been tweaked.

Rumors started swirling earlier this month that Lea and Naya had some kind of verbal altercation on set, and that one of them was escorted off, however, sources tell E! News that "no one was kicked off the set" and "no one was fired."

Creator Ryan Murphy recently told E! that the door for season six is open for any of Glee's stars. "My feeling about the last season of Glee is very clear, and that is we will be reaching out to all of the regulars on the show, that original group of Glee club members and the teachers, and anybody who wants to come back can come back," he said. "Anybody who wants to be a part of the show, we welcome them."

Popwrapped originally reported on the rumors of Naya being written out of the episode, and also claimed that Naya definitely won't be back for season six. Our sources insist that decision has not yet been made.


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