The unexpected death of former NBA player, Kobe Bryant, shocked the world. Not long after the news broke, it was the number one trending topic on Twitter with users trying to grasp what had gone wrong. Later in the day, it was discovered that his daughter, Gianna, was also with the athlete when the helicopter they were riding in fatally crashed in Calabasas, California. Gianna was just 13 years old and was quickly gaining super stardom for the talent she possessed in the sport her father was known for, basketball. Many online users across various platforms quickly took to their social medias to express their condolences and well-wishing for the rest of the Bryant family. There also was criticism for the news site TMZ, for their early reporting on the incident. The thoughts and prayers were also given by many high-profile figures such as former president, Barack Obama. It was later revealed that seven others also passed away as a result of the crash, including teammates of Gianna. The father-daughter duo is survived by wife and mom Vanessa, as well as sisters/daughters- Natalia (the eldest), along with Bianka and seven-month-old Capri. The well-known couple have been together since Vanessa was 17 years old and eventually marrying in 2001.
Courtesy: Vanessa Bryant
On Wednesday evening, Vanessa responded to the masses of well wishes. Since the news broke, the other half of the adored couple remained silent and turned away from the public as her social media were promptly made private. Earlier Wednesday, Vanessa changed her profile picture to one of the late father-daughter duo. In her Instagram post, she starts off by saying “My girls and I want to thank the millions of people who’ve shown support and love during this horrific time. Thank you for all the prayers. We definitely need them.” She goes on to acknowledge the other families of the victims affected by the fatal crash by saying: “We are also devastated for the families who lost their loved ones on Sunday, and we share in their grief intimately.” One of the teammates on board was accompanied by both of her parents, the other having her mom on board. In addition to the family friends of the Bryant’s that were also victims of the accident, the pilot of the helicopter also died. He was a well-known pilot with many celebrities frequently flying in the same helicopter from the crash.
Vanessa then goes on to discuss the future, putting some hopeful light on the matter. She states, “I’m not sure what our lives hold beyond today, and it’s impossible to imagine life without them. But we wake up each day, trying to keep pushing because Kobe, and our baby girl, Gigi, are shining on us to light the way.” She also mentions that her family will be seeking privacy during this time “to navigate this new reality.” To end the post, she says her and her team have set up a foundation to help the other families during this tragic time. If you are interested in donating, you can here.
Read the full post here.
Want to see more HCFSU? Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest!