Was a behind-the-scenes feud between Naya Rivera and Lea Michele to blame for Rivera’s exit from Glee? The 27-year-old actress has played Santana, the feisty cheerleader-turned-Gleek, since season one, but has been reportedly written out of the season five finale. According to E! Online, that doesn’t necessarily mean she’s been written out of the show for good, however.
“[Naya] isn’t fired and her not being in the finale has nothing to do with Lea,” a source from the show said. “I don’t know where these stories are coming from, but they are not true.”
But others suggest that over the last few months, Rivera and Michele have had a rocky on-set relationship. ”They’re always icy to each other,” a show source told Us Weekly. “Naya is jealous that Lea is the show’s main star… There is a lot of sighing and eye-rolling between them.” Added another: ”They talk behind each other’s backs—a lot.”
Despite rumors, Rivera’s rep clarified that ”any reports or rumors circulating that Naya Rivera was let go or fired from Glee are absolutely untrue. End of story.”
No matter what happens, Rivera said, “[Glee] is my home, so I’ll always be apart of it in some shape or form. I don’t know what the big picture looks like but it’s definitely my home base.”
Rivera’s fate—as well as that of her costars—won’t be decided until June when Fox announces the season six cast. ”We love Naya and want only the best for her,” a source said. “Hopefully we can work it out.”
One thing that is for certain? Show creator Ryan Murphy knows what he wants for the sixth and final season of Glee. “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.”