Vanessa Bryant shares heartfelt message to her ‘forever Valentine’ Kobe
‘Missing you so much on your favourite holiday,’ Vanessa writes on Instagram in honour of late husband
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Your support makes all the difference.Vanessa Bryant has shared a tribute to her late husband Kobe Bryant for Valentine’s Day, describing the occasion as his “favourite holiday”.
Ms Bryant shared a photograph on Instagram of herself and Kobe sitting together, the former NBA star kissing his wife on the cheek.
The picture was posted with Lauryn Hill’s 1998 song “Tell Him” playing in the background, the lyrics of which read: “Though I may suffer, I’ll envy it not / And endure what comes, / ‘cause he’s all that I got and tell him / Tell him I need him / Tell him I love him.”
In the caption, Vanessa expressed how much she misses her husband and daughter Gianna Bryant, who were among nine people who died in a tragic helicopter crash in California on 26 January. Kobe was 41 and Gianna was 13 years old.
“To my forever Valentine, I love you so much. Missing you so much on your favourite holiday,” Vanessa wrote.
“Te amo per sempre [I love you forever]. Kisses to you and Gigi in heaven. Happy Valentine’s Day, my babies. With all my love, your boo-boo.”
Vanessa also shared the same picture on her Instagram Story.
The Valentine’s Day post has been viewed more than eight million times, accumulating tens of thousands of supportive responses.
“I love you V! Your love will last forever and always,” wrote reality television star Khloe Kardashian, while actor Gabrielle Union commented with a row of heart emojis.
On 30 January, Vanessa spoke out for the first time following the deaths of her husband and daughter, saying that she and her daughters “want to thank the millions of people who’ve shown support and love during this horrific time”.
Vanessa and Kobe had four daughters together, ranging in age from 17 to seven months old.
Earlier this week, it was announced that Vanessa had renamed the sports foundation created in her late husband’s honour, Mamba Sports Foundation, to also pay tribute to her late daughter, Gianna.
The charity is now known as the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, paying homage to both Kobe and Gianna Bryant.
“Because there is no #24 without #2, we have updated the Mamba Sports Foundation to now be called the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation,” Vanessa outlined on Instagram, referencing Kobe and Gianna’s respective basketball jersey numbers.
“Thank you all for the outpouring of support and your kind donations to date as we carry forth Kobe and Gigi’s legacy. We hope to empower young athletes in a world they left us all to help shape.”
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