On Monday – 2/24/2020 – the public memorial service for Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant was held in Los Angeles, at the Staples Center, home to the LA Lakers. ESPN, CNN and some networks covered the hours-long memorial live. It was a deeply emotional affair, and a huge event for celebrities. In attendance: Steph Curry, Michael Jordan, Dwyane Wade, Gabrielle Union, James Harden, Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez, Shaquille O’Neal, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, LeBron James, Magic Johnson and about a million more people.
The memorial began with a performance by Beyonce – she did “XO,” which was apparently one of Kobe’s favorite songs. Then she did “Halo.” I have to say… I did not like the arrangement on “Halo” in particular, but I also think Beyonce was trying to not get TOO into the music, so she could avoid sobbing throughout her performance. She also changed some of the lyrics – “crashing into you” became “laughing into you,” for example.
Here’s Vanessa Bryant’s eulogy. She is just raw and she hasn’t even begun to process the loss. I feel so sorry for her.
Here’s Michael Jordan’s eulogy. He was in tears throughout the entire service, and then he started weeping soon after he came up to the podium. MJ was self-aware about his tears too, even making a joke about how people would get another three or four years of “crying Michael Jordan memes” out of his appearance. He also said Kobe was “like a little brother.”
And here’s Shaquille. I loved the joke about there being an “M and E” in team. They had to bleep out the “motherf–ker” though!
Also: just after the memorial, we learned that Vanessa Bryant has a lawyer and she’s suing Island Express – the helicopter company – for Kobe and Gianna’s wrongful deaths. You can read more about the lawsuit here.
Screencaps courtesy of videos.
I cried throughout.Vanessa is such a strong woman.my prayers thoughts and prayers to all families involved through this hard time
I was able to make it to about 1:30 of Vanessa speaking before the tears started and I couldn’t watch. It is just too heartbreaking. She seemed so raw, and almost angry, which I completely agree with. This didn’t have to happen. That poor family.
A few of my coworkers yesterday got into a heated argument about the lawsuit though. They said, she’s a millionaire, why is she suing? I said, to me, it doesn’t matter if I have a 500 million dollar net worth, if my husband and baby died in an accident that could have been avoided, I would sue. I think its the principle of what happened, legal reasons, and also to keep this from happening to others.
Absolutely agree, @busyann. Someone needs to be held responsible.
Yes. Not to mention they weren’t the only ones who died in the crash. And anyway, their wealth *should* have ensured they got the absolute best quality and highest standards…and yet they didn’t. So the company should be called out for their negligence. I know some accidents are unavoidable but this one certainly seemed to be.
The other families will probably join her on the lawsuit at some point; she probably filed it because she can afford the best lawyers better than the other families could on their own.
And she’ll probably donate the money won
Exactly! Or share the settlement with the other family!
I wish she would sue TMZ too for emotional distress! It’s rumored that she found out on TMZ and it’s confirmed that many of the other family members also found out on TMZ. The sheriff was pissed!
Someone on the inside leaked that information to TMZ. Find out who your leak is, or it will happen again.
I believe all the money that was bought for tickets yesterday goes to all the other families.All of it and not too Vanessa.
I got into a few comment wars with internet strangers over the lawsuit, the amount of money she has doesn’t matter, it’s about taking responsibility for their deaths! If I had millions in the bank and my child died at the hands of someone who should’ve known better I’d sue as well, and donate the money to other victims.
Apparently, they do not have the same rules for black boxes and other things on helicopters. Her lawsuit could actually change things for thé better, and she has the money to go in-depth to find out all the details about how this happened. From the media it seems cut and dry the pilot shouldn’t have flown in those conditions but I’m sure there is a lot more to it and she wants to know. Who could blame her. It was a lovely memorial and it’s so sad.
Many people believe suing is all about money and it’s not. It’s how change is made and new laws are considered. Maybe helicopters will have better safety regulations and a black box because of her lawsuit.
It’s not about the money. It’s about how that pilot chose to fly even in bad weather conditions. I think he had a history of doing this – if what I read in the press was correct. He was called on it too.
Her husband and daughter died in the worse possible way. They most likely suffered before they died. That did not need to happen. I understand why she sued.
I am glad Vanessa is suing.
I didnt read the linked article since it is from TMZ and I will never read their website.
Me too
So we have no idea if previous reports that the pilot claims that they were being pressured to fly? Now if she is suing on behalf of the other families that lost someone I can maybe understand, right now it just looks like she wants someone held responsible and what if that person is her husband? Those who boarded that flight knew maybe a chance that this might happen but they dismissed it. The same way we get into our cars and board aircraft everyday and know there might be a chance that something happens we dismiss it. Ultimately the company may go out of business and have the insurance company pay out.
Even if the pilot was pressured to fly and they shouldn’t have due to weather it would still be the pilots fault he’s the one with the training and license. I mean if a friend pressures you to drive intoxicated who would be in trouble if you cause a wreck. It would be the licensed person.
I thought that theory was debunked last month, but even if true the pilot would still be at fault for not telling him no. Same thing with Michael Jackson’s death, the doctor is at fault for killing him because he’s the trained professional who knew better and chose to administer the medication anyway.
My understanding is that no matter what pressure is exerted by passengers it is the pilot’s responsibility to make flight decisions. Unless a passenger is holding a gun to the pilot’s head and taking the decision away from him by force, the responsibility for the aircraft is on the trained professional. Yes, we all get into cars and aircraft knowing something could go wrong but we wouldn’t do it if we didn’t also expect that the machinery is safe for operation and that the operators are competent to handle unexpected issues that arise. If no one is ever held accountable for negligence then what is the financial incentive for companies to avoid it?
This is gross victim blaming. Stahp.
I could only watch bits and pieces of the memorial. It made me cry too hard. I have a copy of his book, Mamba Mentality, and I read a few entries and wept at that, too. He was a truly unique and special human being. And their poor daughter, and their friends…such a loss, such a terrible loss.
May they all rest in glory until reunited with their loved ones once again.
I did not know that helicopters were not required to have black boxes. Wow. Really???
It was probably not intentional, but I loved how all the performers were women and two female athletes spoke. It sent a message of female strength and all that Gianna would have become.
To me, the saddest part is all that Gianna could have become. The whole thing is heartbreaking. But she truly could have been a force for women’s basketball and women’s athletics in general. She was poised for it!
I do hope they start requiring black boxes and other higher standards for helis. It’s amazing they don’t. A skilled pilot can safely land a plane that has lost power, but a heli basically goes straight down. Apparently that is not what happened here, but still! Those things are scary!
The suit seeks damages for loss of love, affection, care, society, service, comfort, support, right to support, companionship, solace or moral support and expectations of future support and counseling. The suit also seeks money for loss of financial support and for burial and funeral expenses.
I still can’t believe what happened. This is just heart wrenching.
I could only watch periodically. As with others, I cried. Vanessa, Jordan, Shaquille. I did listen to Christina sing Ave Maria. Touching and heartbreaking.
Christina and Alicia were great to listen to.
I cried, I cried about Finkelstein security guard Sandra Wilson. Kobe wealth and influence played major factors and when it comes out that he was the main reason they took off, what then. What about the other families that also lost lives, do they have a right to sue the Bryant estate?
Ugh, give it up. As has been stated millions of times. The pilot has final say on whether he can take of or not. It’s the law. Even Donald Trump can’t “pressure” the pilot into flying. So trying to pass the blame into Kobe is really in bad taste.
I wonder what you gain in this line of attack.
Someone who is not praising is suddenly attacking, great. We will not know the conversation that Kobe had with this pilot, same way we wont know what the lawyers said to his accuser to drop her case. Also wonder where the proceeds from the ticket sales to this went to? Oh thats right that Mamba foundation, wonder if that foundation will be giving to the other victims or just the immediate family. So while I feel bad for families that lose loved ones, I think attention needs to be given to those who are everyday citizens and not just famous ones.
I think many people get blinded by the superstar fame but forget that if the same happened to you, it would make no difference to them.
It would be hard to sue the Bryant estate off of your scenario. Unless the company or pilot told Kobi it was unsafe to fly and he didn’t tell the passengers. Even then though it really is the company’s job to do that. That scenario which I doubt would work only means Kobi would be partially responsible. The pilot and company are the ones licensed and trained it’s their ultimate responsibility as it should be. I don’t think we want peer pressure making weather flight decisions.
You are assuming a lot though. My guess is there is more to it that it seems, and may not just be pilot decision but it may be rules which should be changed. The only way to get to that is to go with a lawsuit and all the victims families can do that. Also it’s standard what they were suing for doesn’t mean they will win. My guess is they will or it will settle after they have more info.
I agree that I think suing is basically useless because both Kobe and the Pilot are dead so I don’t really know why it matters at this point.
I think she’s also suing for loss of future earnings right? Kobe was the breadwinner of that family. He was young and had many more years to make millions.
A lot of times these lawsuits are done to hold companies accountable for unsafe procedures. It is the only way they will be held accountable and made to change their practices and procedures. Hitting them in the bank. Would you be questioning anyone else suing if it wasn’t Vanessa Bryant suing? I don’t understand the long reach you are going for in this thread.
You honestly think this has to do with safety? Yeah no, this has to do with her wanting her insurance payout. At that point the company was only covered for $50 million and now the other families are following suit and it is to the judges discretion who gets what portion.
Why would Vanessa want to prevent this from happening to another family when it could have been avoided? Especially if the company and pilot were operating as they should have been in piloting in low visibility. You sound like a person with a grudge. It’s one thing to aim it Kobe, but to direct it at a grieving widow and mother…
**I wrote the original reply about safety. There is another Diane posting in other threads so I’m distinguishing us from here on.
It is an attack. Just like the rest of us, you were not privy to any conversation between Kobe and the pilot.
You have decided to spread falsehoods.
I don’t know why you think Kobe would put his daughter in danger.
I am pretty sure no one thinks about the probability of things happening, but they do. Let us all bookmark this page so a year from now we can look back as more details and facts play out.
It’s very easy to sound virtuous by calling out people who grieve celebrities when people die all the time. The fact is that when someone famous dies, it is not about people being blinded by fame at all. People feel genuinely connected to that person even though they don’t know them. Maybe they watched Kobe play every game with their Dad who has since passed away. Maybe it feels like part of their youth that is gone forever. Maybe they had someone in their life die suddenly and you feel very connected to this event. Maybe you have kids this age and immediately think of their own husbands and daughters.
It doesn’t make you a bad person to feel actual grief over a celebrity dying. And you can still feel sadness over people you don’t know, such as the other people in the helicopter, that may not be as visceral to you personally.
It’s so very sad. Gigi, looked like such a nice kid. Her smile is so beautiful. I just can’t imagine. I don’t know a lot about Kobe and his parents. Why are they not involved? Are they horrible people. I know they are still alive. I guess at the private funeral they perhaps spoke. He was so young when he started, I assumed his parents and him would be close.
Bad blood. I think that they were against the marriage to Vanessa and that they thought that the house Kobe bought them was not grand enough. If parents choose to bad mouth a spouse, they should expect being cut out. Their loss.
You know his wealth influence were major factors how exactly? You were there and heard a conversation? Because all the people who could speak to that are dead. And even if they weren’t, legally Bryant would never be responsible. He didn’t force anyone onto a helicopter. I guess if people think he demanded what he wanted and got it that’s one thing, but it’s not a legal standard in cases like this. The owner/operator of the helicopter is legally responsible. That’s who the Bryant family is suing. Because these are standard legal steps. Bryant likely had life insurance and wrongful death lawsuits like this typically boil down to legal maneuvering between the insurance companies. I think there’s far less emotional motivation than people seem to think there is.
I had watched this during the day and cried like a baby, then last night The Color Purple musical was in town, went to that, cried 3-4 times, so moving (not comparing, I’m just an emotional human), we sleep with the TV on, CNN usually, I woke up at 3:00 a.m., this was on replay and Vanessa was speaking, cried again…lots of tears yesterday. All cried out!!
Vanessa is strong as hell. There is no way I could get up in front of all those ppl and give the eulogy to my husband AND my child.
It was incredibly sad to watch and still very hard to believe. Does anyone know if Kobe still had any relationship with his parents? I saw his mom, dad, and sisters in the audience but they didn’t speak did they? No photos of Kobe with his parents and siblings. No mention of him being a son and brother.
Due to Kobe’s controlling and greedy Mother, the family had not repaired the damage she caused. Kobe’s mother rules her husband and daughters.
It’s sad enough for Vanessa to be a widow so young (and since they’d been together since she was 17–she wouldn’t even have seriously dated anyone else and must feel so adrift) but, if you stay married, it’s at least the natural progression. It’ll happen to one spouse. It’s her loss of a child that really just guts me when I think of her. It’s like people say, it’s just not natural. And for them to go together? Just beyond awful. And your spouse is who you’d be leaning on in such a loss—the only other who could understand your grief. And you’re deprived of that. And your children would support you as a young widow and you’re denied one of those pillars. It’s just exponentially worse grief. And for those young girls to lose their dad? The youngest won’t even remember him. The older ones will be denied him at all those milestones—graduations, weddings. As well at all those day to day events that make up a life.