Speaking on Monday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Vanessa who fought back tears started by thanking the crowd before mourning the loss of her daughter.
“Thank you so much for being here. It means so much to us, the outpouring of love and support from around the world has been so uplifting,” she said before sharing memories first of Gianna. “My baby girl, Gianna Bryant, is an amazingly sweet and gentle soul, she would kiss me every morning and every night.”
“She was daddy’s girl but I know she loved mama, and she would always show me and tell me how much she loved me,” she continued. “She was one of my very best friends.”
“Her smile took up her entire face, like mine,” she said. “Kobe always said she was me she had my fire, my personality… she was tender and loving on the inside. She had the best laugh, it was infectious, it was pure and genuine. Kobe and Gianna naturally gravitated toward each other.”
“She was a nice person, a leader, a teacher … she gave the best hugs and kisses,” she remembered, fighting back tears. ” … I miss looking at her beautiful face.”
“I won’t be able to see her go to high school with [sister] Natalia, I won’t be able to see her walk down the aisle,” she continued, breaking down in tears. “Or have a father daughter-dance with her daddy and have babies of her own. Gianna would’ve been an amazing mommy. … She probably would have been the best player in the WNBA. She would have made a huge difference in the way women are viewed in sports.”
She also emotionally remembered her late husband, Kobe.
“Now for my soulmate. Kobe was known for being a fierce competitor on the basketball court, the greatest of all time, a writer, and Oscar winner and the Black Mamba, but to me, he was Kob-Kob, my boo-boo, may bae-boo, my papi-chulo,” she said through tears.
“I was his vee-bee, his principesa, his reina, his queen mamba. I couldn’t see him as a celebrity, nor as an incredible basketball player, he was my sweet husband and the beautiful father of our children. He was mine. He was my everything.
Kobe and I have been together since I was 17 and a half years old. I was his first girlfriend, his first love, his wife, his best friend, his confidant and his protector. He was the most amazing husband. Kobe loved me more than I could ever express or put into words.”
Shee also said Kobe was a romantic person and even bought her Rachel McAdams’ blue dress from The Notebook.
She also called him the “greatest girl dad.”
“He happily did carpool, he was a doting father, he was a father that was hands-on and present,” she shared. “He shared a love of movies and the break-down of films with Natalia. He loves your typical tear-jerkers, Steel Magnolias, Little Women … he had a tender heart.”
“I want my daughters to remember the amazing husband and father he was,” she said. “… He also liked working on projects to improve people’s lives.”
Vanessa broke down in tears when she talked about Kobe and Gianna dying together.
“God knew they couldn’t be on this earth without each other,” she said. “He had to bring them home to him together. Babe, you take care of our Gigi. I got Natalia, Bianka and Capri. We’re still the best team. We love and miss you boo-boo and Gigi. May you both rest in peace and have fun in heaven. Until we meet again, we love and miss you forever and always.”
The NBA legend and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna along with seven other victims, died after a tagic helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.
OdumoduBlvck recently praised Mavin Records founder Don Jazzy in an interview with Beats FM.
The rapper discussed his latest project, “Nothing Changed,” a collaborative effort with the Anti-World Gangsters crew. The album features Don Jazzy on the track “Asampete.”
OdumoduBlvck revealed that after recording “Asampete,” he felt the song would benefit from Don Jazzy’s contribution. When approached, Don Jazzy readily agreed to the request.
During their meeting, Don Jazzy not only added his vocals to the song but also surprised OdumoduBlvck with a generous gift of $10,000.
Impressively, Don Jazzy declined any royalties for his contribution to the track.
“When I went to his house to get his vocals, he gave me $10,000 and even my friend was asking me why he gave me such a huge amount of money,” he narrated in the interview.
OdumoduBlvck further praised Don Jazzy, describing him as the most original personality in the Nigerian music industry and a true icon.
“There’s nobody more original than Don Jazzy…The way the younger artists look up to Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, and Olamide today is how they used to look up to Don Jazzy”.
OdumoduBlvck’s praise for Don Jazzy’s generosity and influence on the Nigerian music industry echoes sentiments expressed by numerous artists whose careers have been shaped by the Mavin Records boss.
Four-time Grammy nominee Davido has credited Don Jazzy and D’banj’s flamboyant lifestyle for inspiring him to relocate to Nigeria and pursue his musical aspirations.
Don Jazzy’s philanthropic endeavours also continue to make headlines. Recently, he donated a substantial sum of 100 million naira to Very Dark Man’s charity.
Nigerian actress and evangelist Eucharia Anunobi shared a compelling message about self-empowerment through her Instagram platform on December 19, 2024.
The Nollywood veteran directly addressed her followers in a social media post, urging them to break free from seeking external validation.
Anunobi, known for her influential roles in the Nigerian film industry, stressed that individuals should cultivate a strong sense of self-worth independent of others’ opinions.
The acclaimed actress articulated that personal growth and fulfilment stem from embracing one’s authentic self rather than conforming to societal expectations or public judgment.
In the video posted, Eucharia Anunobi enquired, “Why do you want everyone to like you? Even ice cream isn’t liked by everyone, come on.”Her post caption read,
“Seeking to be liked by all is a sign that you are emotionally and spiritually imbalanced! Some people will hate you because to hate is what gives them joy!! Because they are genetically wicked!!! So get used to not being liked!!!!1 John 5:19.”
The actress’s post ignited a flurry of reactions in her comment section, with followers expressing support and sharing their personal reflections.
Actress Sola Sobowale commented simply, “Fact.”
Other followers shared their thoughts, with one writing, “Anyone who is always seeking validation from the public whenever he or she does something, just know say that person no clear 💯.”
“Caring what people think about you is natural. Letting it drive your behaviours and keep you from doing things you believe in is usually a sign of,” said another person.
Another Instagram user shed more light on the issue, saying,
“codependency conditioning. The core belief in codependency is: what people think of me defines what I think of me. My mother always said, “Your opinion of me is none of my business.” It can get real exhausting perceiving yourself through the eyes of others. No matter how pure your intention, you cannot control how people receive you. Give others the freedom to perceive you as they wish, for it’s merely a reflection of themselves and not your reality. Never mind who sees you. Do you see you?”
“I don’t like people who wanna be liked by everyone, just do you and move on,”
“Thisss ,it’s okay to be a bad person in another persons story ,Only God is PERFECT 👍”
Former BBNaija star and content creator Elozonam revealed how Nigeria’s “japa” syndrome—where individuals emigrate in search of better opportunities abroad—has impacted his personal relationships, especially with friends and family.
During a conversation on the Uncoloured Podcast, hosted by fellow BBNaija alum Venita, Elozonam candidly shared how his twin brother’s relocation has significantly altered their once-close dynamic.
“For my twin brother and I, being twins, we naturally used to argue a lot,” Elozonam said. “But after he left, there was nothing to fight about. Now I have to consciously reach out to him because there are days or weeks when I don’t hear from him. It’s frustrating, but I understand that everyone has to do what they need to survive and build a better life.”
Elozonam reflected on how the japa wave has reshaped his social circle. He traced the trend back to 2018 when his former boss moved abroad with his family.
“That seemed to open the floodgates,” he said. “Since then, people have been leaving one after the other. It’s exhausting. You become hesitant to form new friendships because you don’t know if they’ll just up and leave tomorrow.”
He expressed deep frustration about Nigeria’s deteriorating economy and infrastructure. He acknowledged that unemployment, insecurity, and poor living conditions push many Nigerians to seek better opportunities in other countries.
“Between 2018 and 2024, I’ve seen so many people leave. Nigeria isn’t improving, and everyone wants a better future. It’s hard to blame them, but it’s also hard for those of us left behind.”
Watch the interview below.
“…you’re now too wary of making new friends. Nigeria is not getting any better. We all know this”
Elozonam speaks about living in a different country from his twin brother and the downsides of japa. pic.twitter.com/zc7KMuLcdX