The celebration of life ceremony on Monday for Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna was full of beautiful remembrances of their lives. But some fans have taken to social media to note the lack of tributes paid to Bryant’s parents, Joe and Pam.
Such a sad day for so many. Yet my WHOLE HEART ACHES for #PamBryant and #JoeBryant Kobe's parents, who are present at the #StaplesCenter but have not been acknowledged by ANYONE. They are his PARENTS. 💔 pic.twitter.com/MwgTb0agAS
— #FlyEaglesFly 🦅 (@SheBleedsGreen) February 24, 2020
They were both seated near the stage throughout the ceremony, although neither of the gave speeches.
“Such a sad day for so many. Yet my WHOLE HEART ACHES for #PamBryant and #JoeBryant Kobe’s parents, who are present at the #StaplesCenter but have not been acknowledged by ANYONE. They are his PARENTS,” one person noted.
“loved #KobeFarewell but to have Kobe’s parents & siblings not mentioned…Kobe did not get here via immaculate conception. Before Kobe was Kobe, he was Joe Bryant’s son the first to introduce him to the game, he was Pam Bryant’s son, his first love of a woman, he was a brother…,” another said.
“I feel Vanessa Bryant ‘s pain but people should also remember that Kobe came from Pam and Joe Bryant . They may not be perfect but i am sure that Kobe loves them. Mamba Mentality isnt about hate, only greatness and that includes forgiveness. I heard GIGI loves his grandpa,” someone else mentioned.
“No pics of him and his parents. All of him and Vanessa. It was a beautiful event but wished to see early family pics,” a fourth wrote.
The daughter-in-law of Joe and Pam — Kobe’s wife Vanessa — did speak during the celebration.
“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.'”
“She knew how much her morning and evening kisses meant to me. She was so thoughtful to remember to kiss me every day,” she continued. “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.”
Vanessa Bryant on her late husband, Kobe Bryant: "I couldn't see him as a celebrity, nor just an incredible basketball player. He was my sweet husband, and the beautiful father of our children." 💜💛 #KobeFarewell https://t.co/CRA2ei6Yaj
— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) February 24, 2020
Later, she talked about Kobe.
“I couldn’t see him as a celebrity, nor just an incredible basketball player,” she said. “He was my sweet husband and the beautiful father of our children. He was my — he was my everything.”
