Vanessa Bryant still 'in denial', relying on her mom to cope with Kobe and Gianna's deaths: 'They're very close'
Vanessa Bryant has been relying on her mother, Sofia Laine, to help her deal with the tragic deaths of her husband Kobe Bryant, 41, and their teenage daughter Gianna, it has been claimed.
A source told Us Weekly that Vanessa is "incredibly close to her mom" and that the latter "has been her rock" throughout these past few weeks as she comes to terms with the tragedy.
"Her mom is always with her and the girls [Natalia, 17, Bianka, 3, and Capri, 7 months] and she’s been keeping Vanessa strong and she’s the weight of her support system," the source revealed, adding that Vanessa "is in denial" about Kobe's and Gianna's death but was aware that "life must go on."
"There is no other option, simply put," the source continued. "Vanessa takes solace in the support of her mom and her sister [Sophie Laine], who are committed to seeing her through this. But at the end of the day, there aren’t words to describe her feelings."
The source noted that it "will take a very long time for life to normalize" for Vanessa, something the mom herself admitted in a recent Instagram post where she said her "brain refuses to accept that both Kobe and Gigi are gone."
'It’s like I’m trying to process Kobe being gone but my body refuses to accept my Gigi will never come back to me," she wrote. "It feels wrong. Why should I be able to wake up another day when my baby girl isn’t being able to have that opportunity?! I’m so mad. She had so much life to live."
She conceded that she had to remain strong for her three surviving daughters and that she knew what she was feeling was "normal" and a "part of the grieving process."
"I just wanted to share in case there’s anyone out there that’s experienced a loss like this," she continued. "God I wish they were here and this nightmare would be over. Praying for all of the victims of this horrible tragedy. Please continue to pray for all."
The post had also included a video feature from Slam Magazine about Kobe Bryant coaching their daughter Gianna’s basketball team.
Kobe, Gianna, and seven others, including two members of the latter's basketball team at the Mamba Academy, died after a helicopter carrying them crashed into a mountainside in Calabasas, California, on January 26.
Kobe and Gianna were laid to rest in a private funeral at the Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona Del Mar, California, on Friday, close to two weeks after their deaths.
The cemetery, which features meticulous landscaping, open courtyards, and fountains that “express the joy of living," is close to their family home and is also the final resting place of actor John Wayne.
Their public memorial will take place at the Staples Center, the home of the Los Angeles Lakers and referred to as 'The House that Kobe Built,' on February 24.