Kobe Bryant memorial: NBA legend’s estranged parents welcomed by Vanessa at Staple Center to mourn with family
Kobe Bryant's parents Joe and Pamela Bryant were present at the "Celebration of Life" memorial service in honor of their son and granddaughter Gianna on Monday. Despite being estranged from their son, the parents were welcomed to be in attendance by their daughter-in-law Vanessa according to a report in Hollywood Life. They were first spotted holding each other tightly as Beyonce performed 'XO' and 'Halo' for Kobe and Gianna. The grieving parents received support from Kobe's friends and Magic Johnson was even spotted giving Pam a hug as he was crying.
Derek Fisher, another Lakers alum, was also seen greeting Joe when he had arrived at the LA Staples Center, which is where the memorial was held. Neither Pam or Joe have so far spoken publicly about the loss of their son and his 13-year-old daughter who died in a helicopter crash on January 24 along with seven others who were onboard. The official cause of the crash has not been determined as of now, but the weather is believed to have played a crucial role.
Kobe's relationship with his parents was strained after the couple tried to auction off some memorabilia belonging to Kobe from his early career for $500,000 in 2013. After the incident, Joe and Pamela apologized and said in a statement, "We apologize for any misunderstanding and unintended pain we have caused our son and appreciate the financial support he has provided over the years."
The memorial service also saw Kobe's close friends Michael Jordan and Shaquille O'Neal give the late Lakers superstar a touching tribute. Vanessa, Kobe's wife also gave an emotional eulogy for her daughter Gianna and her husband which left everyone at the Staples Center heartbroken. The memorial was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, who also broke down in tears while giving his opening speech.