Vanessa Bryant's Tribute To Kobe On Their Wedding Anniversary Will Leave You In Tears
Vanessa Bryant married basketball superstar Kobe Bryant on April 18, 2001, after meeting him on the set of a music video shoot when she was in high school and he was just 20 years old, per Entertainment Tonight. The couple had ups and downs over the years, including accusations of sexual assault against Kobe in 2003 and Vanessa filing for divorce in 2011 — they reconciled publicly in 2013, via Us Weekly. The two had four daughters together, but tragically, Kobe and their 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, known as "Gigi" to the family, were killed in a helicopter crash in January 2020. The helicopter went down due to pilot error, according to the National Transportation Safety Board that investigated the crash.
A public memorial was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 24, 2020, and Vanessa gave a touching speech in memory of her husband and daughter, per CNN. She referred to Kobe as her best friend and as "mine. He was my everything." With how close they were, it makes sense that she would honor their wedding anniversary.
Vanessa Bryant works to keep Kobe Bryant and Gianna's legacy alive
Vanessa Bryant posted a photo of Kobe Bryant carrying her on his back to Instagram with the caption, "I love you forever, baby. Happy Anniversary." She also added #21 since this would have been their 21st wedding anniversary. The comments are flooded with hearts and support for Vanessa. It's sweet to see how much love she still has for her late husband and how much people still love her and her family and legacy. Vanessa actively works to keep the legacy of her husband and daughter alive with the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation. According to their website, the foundation helps support underprivileged athletes and provides equal opportunities for both girls and boys in sports — a vision that both Gianna and Kobe believed in.
Vanessa has sued Los Angeles County after some employees took and inappropriately shared photos of the helicopter crash site where Kobe, Gianna, and seven other people died, per USA Today. The suit is pending, and a jury trial is set for July if a settlement isn't agreed before that, according to the Los Angeles Times.