Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were remembered during an emotional celebration of life ceremony at the Staples Center on Monday.
There were many celebrities in attendance to pay their respects to the Lakers legend and Gigi.
Among those were Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez, who were seated next to NBA commissioner Nate Silver and his wife. Early in the proceedings as Jimmy Kimmel was sharing his thoughts on Bryant, the camera caught Lopez and A-Rod getting visibly emotional.
Kimmel’s opening statement were preceding by a performance from Beyonce who brought Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, to tears.
After Kimmel spoke, he introduced Vanessa, who bravely took the stage to talk about her daughter and husband.
“Gianna Bryant is an amazingly sweet and gentle soul,” Vanessa said. “She was always thoughtful. She always kissed me goodnight and kissed me good morning. There were a few occasions where I was absolutely tired from being up with Bianka and Capri and I thought she had left for school without saying goodbye. I text and say ‘No kiss?’ and Gianna would reply with, ‘Mama, I kissed you but you were asleep and I didn’t want to wake you.'”
Vanessa continued: “She knew how much her morning and evening kisses meant to me. She was so thoughtful to remember to kiss me every day. She was Daddy’s girl but I know she loved her mama. She would always tell me and show me how much she loved me. She was one of my very best friends. She loved faith, she loved putting a smile on everyone’s faces.”
“I cannot imagine life without her. Mommy, Natalia, Bianka, Capri and Daddy love you so much, Gigi,” Vanessa continued. “I will miss your sweet handmade cards, your sweet kisses and your gorgeous smile. I miss you, all of you, every day. I love you.
“I couldn’t see [Kobe] as a celebrity, nor just an incredible basketball player,” she added. “He was my sweet husband and the beautiful father of our children. He was my — he was my everything.”
WATCH NOW: Kobe Bryant's wife, Vanessa, speaks publicly for the first time at the memorial for her husband and daughter https://t.co/uX9ZqmKS5v pic.twitter.com/SmYwxuBiot
— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 24, 2020
Lopez shared her heartbreak off the losses on Instagram soon after the January 26th accident.
“We are all feeling sadness from this loss, but all I can think of is that it is a grain of sand compared to what Vanessa must going through right now. I am sending all of my love and praying for you, your children and the other families involved in today’s tragic turn of events,” Lopez continued.
“The most unfair thing in life is to lose a child and husband on the same day. Vanessa, I pray for your strength and that God guides you each step of the way through this unimaginable heartbreak. To the other families who are suffering from this unthinkable tragedy, may God be with you all.”
