Vanessa Bryant has yet to speak publicly about the death of her husband and daughter, but she appears to have acknowledged the tragedy for the first time.
On Wednesday, Bryant’s wife changed the profile picture on her Instagram account to a touching photo of Kobe and Gianna.
Kobe and Gianna died in a helicopter crash on Sunday that also killed seven other people. It’s impossible to imagine what Vanessa must be going through, and it’s certainly understandable that she has yet to issue a public statement.
Kobe and Gianna were on their way to the Mamba Academy with other members of the team and the players’ parents for a basketball tournament on Sunday. Kobe had traveled by helicopter frequently over the last decade or so, and his explanation for doing so is heartbreaking now looking back.
Vanessa and Kobe have three other daughters together — 17-year-old Natalia, 3-year-old Bianka and 7-month-old Capri.
UPDATE: Here is Vanessa’s first Instagram statement on the tragedy.
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Other victims of the helicopter crash:
– John Altobelli, junior college baseball coach, also died in helicopter crash
– Christina Mauser, girls’ basketball coach, among the helicopter crash victims
– Sarah Chester, daughter Payton were also killed in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash
– Ara Zobayan was the pilot in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash
Tributes to Kobe:
– NBA players changing jersey numbers in honor of Kobe Bryant
– Bill Belichick shares touching anecdote in tribute to Kobe Bryant
– UConn honors Gianna Bryant with own jersey, spot on the bench
– Video: Shaq gets emotional talking about Kobe Bryant on TNT
– Dallas Mavericks retire Kobe Bryant’s No. 24 jersey
– Video: Raptors, Spurs start game with amazing tribute to Kobe Bryant
– Shaq posts heartfelt tribute to Kobe Bryant
– Michael Jordan releases statement on death of ‘little brother’ Kobe Bryant
– Video: Doc Rivers breaks down crying talking about Kobe Bryant
– Phil Jackson calls Kobe Bryant ‘a chosen one’ in statement on his death
– NBA commissioner Adam Silver issues statement on death of Kobe Bryant
– Video: Dwyane Wade posts emotional message reacting to Kobe Bryant’s death
– Kendrick Perkins extends olive branch to Kevin Durant after Kobe Bryant’s death
– Gilbert Arenas vows to begin coaching career like Kobe Bryant urged him to
– Video: Emotional Mike Breen sums up NBA world’s emotions about Kobe Bryant’s death
– Trae Young’s huge game was full of Kobe Bryant-related statistical coincidences
More coverage:
– Investigators release chilling drone footage from Kobe Bryant helicopter crash site
– Video: Kobe Bryant helicopter audio released
– Media errors, rumors, poor judgment run rampant in reporting of Kobe Bryant news
– TMZ says they had permission from Kobe’s people to report Bryant had died
– NBA postpones Tuesday’s Lakers-Clippers game after Kobe Bryant’s death
– Kobe Bryant recently filed for ‘Mambacita’ trademark for daughter Gianna
– Kobe Bryant checked in on Shaq’s son Shareef morning of helicopter crash
– No, Rick Fox did not die in helicopter crash that killed Kobe, Gianna Bryant
– Lakers fans start memorial to Kobe Bryant outside Staples Center
– Kobe Bryant’s last tweet was congratulating LeBron James on passing him
– Sports world stunned over Kobe Bryant news
– Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter crash – dead at 41
Don’t miss any news
– Follow Larry Brown Sports on Twitter
– Join our Facebook group
– Download the Larry Brown Sports app on your iOS device
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Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna were on a helicopter that crashed into the hills in Calabasas, California on Sunday morning, killing nine people. There was initial confusion about whether or not other members of Bryant’s family were aboard the helicopter and also died in the crash, but that has been cleared up.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported later Sunday that Bryant’s wife Vanessa, and daughters/sisters Natalia (17), Bianka (3) and Capri were NOT on the helicopter and are still alive.
The loss is crushing for the family. Three girls will now grow up without their father, and Vanessa will spend the rest of her life without her husband.
But after a reporter earlier in the day said all four of Kobe’s daughters were in the crash, this news comes as a relief to Bryant’s fans and those who followed the story closely.
Unfortunately, this news does not decrease the death total; seven other people still died in the crash, leaving sadness for many families, and holes in their lives.
Three of the other victims include junior college baseball coach John Altobelli, whose daughter Alyssa played on the Mamba team. Alyssa and John’s wife Keri also died in the crash, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan and CNN.
Christina Mauser, a coach, was one of the other people in the crash.
More Larry Brown Sports coverage of Kobe Bryant’s death:
Don’t miss any news
– Follow Larry Brown Sports on Twitter
– Join our Facebook group
– Download the Larry Brown Sports app on your iOS device
– Subscribe to our newsletter (sign up here)
Other victims of the helicopter crash:
– John Altobelli, junior college baseball coach, also died in helicopter crash
– Christina Mauser, girls’ basketball coach, among the helicopter crash victims
Tributes to Kobe:
– Dallas Mavericks retire Kobe Bryant’s No. 24 jersey
– Video: Raptors, Spurs start game with amazing tribute to Kobe Bryant
– Shaq posts heartfelt tribute to Kobe Bryant
– Michael Jordan releases statement on death of ‘little brother’ Kobe Bryant
– Video: Doc Rivers breaks down crying talking about Kobe Bryant
– Phil Jackson calls Kobe Bryant ‘a chosen one’ in statement on his death
– NBA commissioner Adam Silver issues statement on death of Kobe Bryant
– Video: Dwyane Wade posts emotional message reacting to Kobe Bryant’s death
– Kendrick Perkins extends olive branch to Kevin Durant after Kobe Bryant’s death
– Video: Emotional Mike Breen sums up NBA world’s emotions about Kobe Bryant’s death
– Trae Young’s huge game was full of Kobe Bryant-related statistical coincidences
More coverage:
– Media errors, rumors, poor judgment run rampant in reporting of Kobe Bryant news
– Kobe Bryant checked in on Shaq’s son Shareef morning of helicopter crash
– No, Rick Fox did not die in helicopter crash that killed Kobe, Gianna Bryant
– Lakers fans start memorial to Kobe Bryant outside Staples Center
– Kobe Bryant’s last tweet was congratulating LeBron James on passing him
– Sports world stunned over Kobe Bryant news
– Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter crash – dead at 41
Don’t miss any news
– Follow Larry Brown Sports on Twitter
– Join our Facebook group
– Download the Larry Brown Sports app on your iOS device
– Subscribe to our newsletter (sign up here)
Kobe Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter was also killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday morning that claimed the life of the legendary basketball player.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Sunday morning that five people (later confirmed to be 9) were killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas. There were no survivors. There was initial confusion about who was aboard the helicopter, as plenty of misinformation was spread – largely stemming from a false report from ABC.
After initially saying Kobe was survived by his wife Vanessa and four daughters, TMZ later reported that Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna was also killed in the crash. TMZ reported that Kobe and Gianna were on their way to Mamba Academy in Thousand Oaks.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski later said Kobe and Gianna were on the helicopter, was well as another player and parent.
The Los Angeles Times says the crash occurred shortly before 10 a.m. near Las Virgenes Road, south of Agoura Road. The helicopter crashed into the hills in Calabasas amid foggy conditions.
While Kobe’s oldest daughter, Natalia, plays volleyball, Gianna was an emerging basketball player and had an amazing highlight video.
Bryant was known for taking a helicopter as his method of transportation going from his home in Orange County to Staples Center in Los Angeles when he played. He was a 5-time NBA champion, 18-time All-Star, 2-time NBA Finals MVP, and NBA MVP. He is regarded as one of the greatest NBA players in history, as well as one of the most influential.
Kobe Bryant and his wife Vanessa welcomed their fourth daughter into the world this week, and the latest member of the Bryant clan shares a name with her dad.
Vanessa Bryant announced on Instagram Friday that Capri Kobe Bryant was born the day before.
“Our baby girl is here!!!! Capri Kobe Bryant. So thankful for our newest baby blessing. 6/20/19,” Vanessa wrote.
Kobe and Vanessa have four kids together, and all four are girls. They are apparently open to trying for a fifth child in hopes of having a boy, but one of Kobe’s daughter can already give the future Hall of Famer a run for his money on the basketball court. Retirement is treating Kobe well so far.
Kobe Bryant and his wife Vanessa have a fourth child on the way, but none of the Bryant children will be eligible to follow in their dad’s footsteps by playing in the NBA. That’s because they are all girls, but is there still a chance Kobe and Vanessa could have a boy?
According to Hollywood Life, Kobe and Mrs. Bryant are still hoping to have a son. That means there’s a good chance they could end up with as many children as Kobe has championship rings.
“Kobe and Vanessa would absolutely love to have a son but are completely blessed that they have healthy beautiful daughters,” a source close to Bryant told the gossip publication. “They will try again, they aren’t done with their family and look to grow it regardless of the fifth child is a son or daughter.”
The insider added that Kobe has joked to friends that his fifth child will be a boy, since five is a lucky number for him.
If you got a chance to see his hilarious gender reveal video last year, you know Boston Celtics star Gordon Hayward knows how Kobe feels with wanting a son. Perhaps the fifth go-around will be a different story for the Bryants.
Now eight months removed from the final NBA game of his career, Kobe Bryant is ready to take on a new challenge — and it has nothing to do with basketball or business.
TMZ has learned that Bryant and his wife Vanessa welcomed their third child, another little girl, this week. Kobe and Vanessa already have two daughters, and they announced back in July that they were expecting a third.
The Bryants’ first daughter , Natalia Diamante, was born in 2003. Their second daughter, Gianna Maria-Onore, was born in 2006. Ironically, Kobe once gave a Lakers writer advice on how to conceive a boy.
A third baby is great news for Kobe and Vanessa, especially after we learned about the miscarriage they endured years ago. Retirement just got a little better for one of the greatest athletes of all time.
Kobe Bryant retired from the NBA only a few months ago, and he wasted no time expanding his family.
Kobe and wife Vanessa announced on Instagram Tuesday that they are expecting their third child — a girl — which would give them three girls.
The two seem excited about the pregnancy. Their first daughter, Natalia Diamante, was born in 2003. Their second daughter, Gianna Maria-Onore, was born in 2006. Their third is coming soon.
The big irony is that Kobe once gave a Lakers writer advice on how to have a boy:
There was one thing, years ago, I had two girls and we were talking about how we were going to try to have a third. And, he told me that to have a boy, I need to keep my socks on with my wife… that was his advice. I did not listen, and I have a third girl.
Clearly Kobe forgot to leave his socks on.
This is really great for the Bryant family, especially since we learned that Vanessa suffered a miscarriage years ago. Maybe they always wanted a bigger family.
Kobe Bryant opened up in an unprecedented way in his new documentary and even revealed that wife Vanessa suffered a miscarriage during his rape trial in 2004.
Bryant was investigated for sexual assault in 2003 after having sex with a woman who worked at the Colorado hotel where he was staying ahead of a procedure he was set to undergo on his knee. The charges against Bryant were dismissed in 2004 after the accuser said she would not testify, and the two later settled a civil suit.
In his new documentary “Muse,” which aired on Showtime over the weekend, Bryant revealed that Vanessa suffered a miscarriage with what would have been their second child.
“Things would have been really easy to leave, especially during that time. It would have been much easier to leave. Take half the money. Have your daughter. But she didn’t do that.
“We were expecting our second child during that time. There was so much stress … she actually miscarried. I have a real hard time dealing with that because I felt like it was just my fault. Like we should be building our family but because of my mistake — because of this tough year — we lost a baby.
“We tried to justify — you don’t realize how common miscarriages are, you know, these things happen and it’s a part of the process. But the reality is it happened because of me. That’s the reality of it. And that’s something that I gotta carry forever.”
The Bryants’ first child, daughter Natalia, was born in 2003. The miscarriage occurred during the spring of 2005. Their second daughter, Gianna, was born in May 2006.
The miscarriage was one of many difficult times in the relationship between Kobe and Vanessa. She reportedly was fuming when some shirtless photos of Kobe were taken in 2012, which were released months after she filed for divorce in late 2011. The two eventually called off the split in 2013 and got back together.
H/T TMZ Sports
Vanessa Bryant doesn’t seem like the type to take part in a dramatic reality TV show like “Real Housewives of Orange County,” but that may be exactly why the shows producers are reportedly looking to add her. According to RumorFix.com, there will be a new face on the next season of RHOC and it could be Kobe Bryant’s better half.
“There will be a new girl and a new friend,” an insider reportedly told the gossip site. “They are looking at athletes’ wives. There is one who plays professional baseball. There have also been talks of Kobe Bryant’s wife being scoped out.”
Earlier this month, Radar Online reported that one of the shows current stars, Tamra Judge, could be given the boot with the producers looking to get rid of her pot-stirring antics and add a “voice of reason” to the cast.
“Everyone is stirring the pot too much. So they’re NOT looking for someone who’s a sex pot or out of control,” Radar Online reported. “Actually, just the opposite. They want someone who’s really successful, an entrepreneur or just someone who’s well respected among their peers.”
Vanessa and Kobe Bryant nearly went through a divorce last year but ended up reconciling. There have also been rumors that Vanessa hates Khloe Kardashian, which has the potential to make for good television. We’ll see if the rumors come to fruition.
Kobe Bryant probably had a better Valentine’s Day than you. How do we know that? Because wow, I’m still in shock about the picture he shared of wife Vanessa wearing some skimpy lingerie.
Kobe posted the photo to his Instagram account Friday night and called Vanessa “Queen Mamba.” Here was the caption:
“#QueenMamba @ladyvb24 Celebrate the one you love #myvalentine happy valentines day to all #blessings”
The picture is so risque, I’ve posted it below the jump.
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