BeyoncéandVanessa Bryantshared a sweet moment during Monday’s celebration of life forKobe Bryantand Gianna Bryant.
The “Halo” singer,who performed two of her hits to kick off the memorial, was captured on camera comforting Vanessa after she was overcome with emotion in the Staples Center.
The interaction happened asMichael Jordanwas delivering aheartfelt speechabout the late basketball star and his daughter, with tears falling down his face.
The duo also held hands during the tribute, as Beyoncé, 38, continued to comfort Vanessa until she could collect herself again.
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“Gianna Bryant is an amazingly sweet and gentle soul. She was always thoughtful,” she said. “She was daddy’s girl but I know she loved her mamma. She was one of my very best friends.”
Vanessa Bryant.FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty
Vanessa noted that her daughter “loved family traditions” and “looked out for everyone” and went on to express her heartbreak over many of the big events in her life that she would miss down the road.
The mother of four then transitioned to words of remembrance about her husband, 41.
“He was the most amazing husband. Kobe loved me more than I could ever express or put into words,” the grieving wife said. “I have no idea how I deserved a man who loved or wanted me more than Kobe.”
“We loved each other with our whole beings, two perfectly imperfect people making a beautiful family and raising our sweet and amazing girls,” she said of her longtime husband, whom she married in 2001.
Kevork Djansezian/Getty
Concluding her emotional speech, Vanessa said of her husband and daughter, “They were so easy to love. Everyone naturally gravitated toward them. They were funny, happy, silly and they loved life. They were so full of joy and adventure.”
“God knew they couldn’t be on this earth without each other. He had to bring them home to heaven together,” said Vanessa, before telling her late husband, “Babe, you take care of our Gigi. … We’re still the best team.”
The memorial, of which the date honors Gianna’s No. 2 jersey at the Mamba Sports Academy, and Kobe’s No. 24 in the latter half of Lakers career, also honored victims John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Sarah Chester, Payton Chester, Christina Mauser and pilot Ara Zobayan.
Besides Vanessa, Beyoncé, and Jordan,Jimmy Kimmel,Shaquille O’Neal,Christina Aguilera, andAlicia Keys, also delivered tributes to Kobe and Gianna at Monday’s service.
If you would like to help the families of the victims of the crash, consider donating to theMamba on Three Fund. Contributions to theMamba Sports Foundationwill help support youth sports.
source: people.com
