Kobe Bryant's parents were never 'personally invited' to Hall of Fame ceremony despite him wanting them there
When Kobe's parents Joe and Pamela Bryant did not attend Saturday night's Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame ceremony, it was indicative to fans of some friction between them and Vanessa Bryant. She had thanked them in her speech and even said that she had invited them. But now the latest reports reveal that Vanessa might be concealing some facts.
A best friend of Kobe's sister Shaya has come forward to reveal that the parents were never personally invited to the event. Model Anansa Sims, who is also Matt Barnes’ ex-wife, has spoken up on social media.
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Vanessa Bryant's speech
During the event on May 15, 2021, Vanessa thanked Kobe’s parents and said she had invited them to the enshrinement because that’s what Kobe had wanted. Fans at the time had praised for her taking the not-so-easy "road of forgiveness".
Vanessa Bryant says Kobe wanted his estranged parents to come to his Hall of Fame ceremony before his death, Vanessa thanks Pam and Joe Bryant for raising Kobe pic.twitter.com/e9dIyv19fd
— gifdsports (@gifdsports) May 15, 2021
"He didn’t really talk about upcoming awards but he did mention this one a week before he and Gigi passed. My husband and I were sitting at our kitchen island and he and I had a conversation about my mother and father-in-law attending tonight’s enshrinement. I invited my mother and father-in-law to tonight’s enshrinement to thank them for bringing one of the most amazing human beings into this world. Pam and Joe thank you for raising Kobe for being exceptional," she said
Parents were never invited
Anansa shared a message from Shaya on her Instagram page, with several images of Kobe through the years - from his younger years through into his prime on the basketball court. Shaya's personal Instagram profile is currently private.
In the post, Sims wrote that Kobe’s parents chose not to attend the ceremony because they felt "disrespected" at his memorial, and they were not "personally invited" to the event. She added in the post that they no idea Kobe had wanted them to go to his Hall of Fame ceremony. For the unawares, Kobe was not on speaking terms with his parents before his death. He was reportedly upset with them for, among other things, selling his memorabilia behind his back.
"His parents didn’t just choose not to go to the HOF. His parents were totally disrespected at the memorial. They weren’t personally invited to the HOF," she wrote.
She also added that Kobe's parents did not know of their son's wish. "I wish that his parents were told that Kobe said he wanted them there just before he passed away.... His parents should've been told that, that conversation happened," she claimed in the post. "If they would've known that prior to hearing it in the HOF speech last night, I believe with all my heart they would've attended. And I believe that would've brought them so much comfort to know that, that's what was in their Sons heart and mind. My heart breaks for his parents all over again."
"Shaya wasn't invited, so she was able to stay home with their parents and comfort them. Imagine not knowing a vital conversation like that took place just one week before your child passed away and not being told," she insisted. "Lord, please continue to comfort this family."