Kobe Bryant’s wife Vanessa’s heartbreaking tribute to the ‘best daddy’ after his body was released to family
VANESSA Bryant remembered Kobe Bryant again on social media today, telling their fans how much she misses the late basketball star. The mother, 37, described Kobe as her “best friend” in an Instagram post and wrote: “Miss you so much.” Kobe and their daughter Gianna died in a helicopter crash on January 26. They, along […]
VANESSA Bryant remembered Kobe Bryant again on social media today, telling their fans how much she misses the late basketball star.
The mother, 37, described Kobe as her “best friend” in an Instagram post and wrote: “Miss you so much.”
Kobe and their daughter Gianna died in a helicopter crash on January 26.
They, along with seven others, were flying to Kobe’s Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, California when the chopper hit fog and crashed into a mountainside in Calabasas.
Miss you saying, “Bonjourno principessa/reina”
Vanessa, in another Instagram post today, shared a funny video of Kobe during an interview with Extra, alongside a heart emoji.
Kobe’s wife has posted several times about her late husband and daughter since their tragic deaths late last month.
Days ago, she shared a photo of their respective basketball jerseys, writing: “There is no #24 without #2.”
Kobe wore the number 24 on the Los Angeles Lakers for his 20-year career. Gianna wore the number 2 on her jersey for her dad’s sports academy.
In her post after their deaths, Vanessa said her family was “completely devastated by the sudden loss” of Kobe, Gianna, and the seven others who were killed in the accident.
“There aren’t enough words to describe our pain right now. I take comfort in knowing that Kobe and Gigi both knew that they were so deeply loved. We were so incredibly blessed to have them in our lives.”
“I wish they were here with us forever. They were our beautiful blessings taken from us too soon,” she said.
On Monday, fact-checking website Snopes debunked rumors claiming Vanessa killed herself after the crash after a YouTube and blog site video referenced falsified news reports that Vanessa died after Kobe and Gianna did.
The cruel video included a “RIP” memorial to Vanessa after the tragic crash in Calabasas killed her husband, daughter, and seven others.
Snopes confirmed Kobe’s grieving widow didn’t take her own life, writing “[r]umors that spread in February 2020 about the death of Kobe Bryant’s widow were junk news.”
Their report read: “This was not a genuine news report. It was a hoax designed to capitalize on the recent deaths of the NBA star and the couple’s teenage daughter, Gianna.”
On the morning of January 26, helicopter pilot Ara Zoboyan, college baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Keri, and their daughter Alyssa, Christina Mauser, a coach at Mamba Sports Academy, passengers Sarah and Payton Chester, also died in the crash.
Kobe was known since his playing days to travel frequently by helicopter to avoid the Los Angeles area’s infamous traffic.
Just weeks before the crash, the former Los Angeles Lakers star referred to Vanessa as “my Queen” and “best friend” online.
The sportsman wrote: “On this day 20 years ago I met my best friend, my Queen @vanessabryant I decided to take her on a date to Disneyland tonight to celebrate old school style (pre 4princesses).
“I love you my mamacita per sempre.”
The two met when Vanessa was in high school 20 years ago. Vanessa was just 17 while Kobe was 21 and had already played three seasons in the NBA.
After Kobe’s death, a spontaneous memorial appeared by grieving fans at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Vanessa asked that her family get to keep some of the items left outside.
A total of 1,353 basketballs, 500 stuffed animals, 14 banners and 25,000 candles were left at the arena, according to Lee Zeidman, the president of the Staples Center.
A date has not yet been set for Kobe and Gianna’s funerals, but Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said he’d been in connection with Vanessa as arrangements are made.
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Garcetti said he wants to ensure the funeral gives everyone a chance to mourn as arrangements are made.
“We really want to listen to Vanessa, to the Lakers, and make sure that we have a chance and the right way to mourn together, as people have been doing spontaneously out on the streets in the next day or two,” the mayor told KABC.
“Laying him to rest will be something which we are here, ready to help support the family however, wherever and whenever.”
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