'B*** Fits,' Jealousy & Lies: Naya Rivera Tells All About Feud With 'Glee' Rival Lea Michele
It's no secret that Glee costars Lea Michele and Naya Rivera were far from best friends during their time on and off set. But now, more than a year after the hit comedy's series finale, the outspoken Rivera is finally telling all about their epic, nasty feud in her new memoir, Sorry Not Sorry: Dreams, Mistakes and Growing Up.
FOX’s “Glee” – Season One
Cast diva! According to Rivera, Michele immediately earned her diva reputation during first season rehearsals by throwing a tantrum when the air conditioner broke. The Broadway vet "kept threatening to call SAG about the unsafe working conditions," she wrote.
“Glee” Los Angeles Premiere Event – Arrivals
While much of the cast was close, Michele avoided the regular group parties in Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz' home, nicknamed the "Love Nest." One night "we even got Lea up to the Love Nest, and Lea does not go out," Rivera said. "She wanted to let her hair down, so she drank two hot toddies while she was there. The rest of us were slamming champagne and vodka, and Lea's in the kitchen making tea."While much of the cast was close, Michele avoided the regular group parties in Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz' home, nicknamed the "Love Nest." One night "we even got Lea up to the Love Nest, and Lea does not go out," Rivera said. "She wanted to let her hair down, so she drank two hot toddies while she was there. The rest of us were slamming champagne and vodka, and Lea's in the kitchen making tea."
FOX’s “Glee” – Season Three
Seducing Michele's boyfriend? During one wild night for McHale's birthday, Rivera and costar Heather Morris did a dance for Michele's later boyfriend Cory Monteith in their panties. "I'm pretty sure Cory had a hard-on the entire time," she boasted.
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Later that evening, Rivera claimed Monteith asked her why they had never hooked up, and they shared a quick peck. "Minus that one incident of kissing, Cory and I had a very brotherly/sisterly relationship," she insisted.
12th Annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball
Rivera began noticing a change in Monteith— who later succumbed to a drug overdose in July 2013— after he began dating Michele two years prior. "The more serious they got, the less Cory hung out with us, and the more he seemed like a different person," Rivera wrote.
“Glee” 100th Episode Celebration
The feud explodes! At the end of the show's fifth season, cast member Chris Colfer wrote an episode, and invited dogs to the set. "One particular Glee star," Rivera said, began to "amp up her b**** factor https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2011/10/veggie-lover-lea-grossed-out-glee-meatball-fight/." "She made a huge deal about the dogs, and demanded hand sanitizer any time one came near her."
17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards – Rehearsals
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The unnamed Glee actress began interrupting and criticizing legendary guest star Tim Conway. "He'd even brought his granddaughter to the set because she was such a Glee fan, and she ended up crying because she couldn't understand why someone was such a b**** to her grandpa!"
FOX’s “Glee” Season Two
Finally, "my costar gave up, locked herself in her trailer, and refused to come out," Rivera recalled.
FOX’s “Glee” – Season Five
Rivera claimed she spoke up about her costar's behavior, and in the process insulted a producer. The next day, she said she woke up to headlines proclaiming "Naya Rivera Fired From Glee."
FOX’s “Glee” – Season Five
The mystery costar certainly seems to be Michele, and April 2014 reports look to confirm it. According to the NY Daily News, Rivera's fight with the producer stemmed from an altercation with Michele.
FOX’s “Glee” – Season Five
Rivera then and now denied she was fired, and claimed she quickly made up with the producer involved. She claimed the particular costar was responsible for the leaked stories. "So I guess you can throw a b*** fit, lock yourself in your trailer, stall production yet still allegedly find time to leak stories to the press," she slammed.
FOX’s “Glee” – Season Three
Rivera finally directly acknowledged her bitter relationship with Michele toward the end of the book. "I think Rachel— erm, I mean Lea— didn't like sharing the spotlight," she explained, adding that Michele often blamed her for anything that went wrong on set.
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Though she admitted they weren't "best of friends," Rivera claimed the feud was "blown out of proportion," and they never trash talked each other. "I'd like to think that we both have better ways to spend our time," she said.
FOX’s “Glee” – Season Five
"In the end," she summed up, "I do wish that Lea and I had gotten along better, but I'm not losing sleep over it."