Kobe Bryant’s widow Vanessa hints at late husband’s feud with his parents as she mourns death of father-in-law: ‘We hoped things would’ve been different’
Vanessa Bryant, the widow of late NBA legend Kobe, reportedly referenced her husband’s feud with his parents when she offered her condolences following the death of his father.
The basketball world is in mourning after Kobe’s father Joe Bryant passed away this week at the age of 69 after suffering a stroke.
His death comes four and a half years after his son – then just 41 – and granddaughter Gianna, 13, were killed in a helicopter crash.
Following the passing of her father-in-law, Vanessa expressed her condolences via Instagram on Tuesday afternoon. At the same time, she seemed to express regret over the rift between her husband and Joe and mother Pam.
“We extend our condolences after learning of the passing of my father-in-law,” she wrote.
Vanessa Bryant (left) — the widow of late NBA icon Kobe (second and third from left) — appeared to reference the feud her husband had with his parents after the death of his father Joe (right)
The basketball team is in mourning after Kobe’s father Joe Bryant tragically passed away this week at the age of 69
“We hoped it would be different. Although we didn’t spend much time together, he was always sweet and kind to be around. Kobe loved him very much. Our prayers go out to the family.”
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the relationship between Joe and his son Kobe became strained as the Lakers legend built a career in the NBA Hall of Fame.
He has never spoken publicly about his son’s death, and earlier this year, the 2000 NBA title ring that Kobe had given him was auctioned off for $927,000.
In 2016, Kobe revealed that he had not spoken to his parents for nearly three years after they tried to auction off his high school memorabilia without permission.
“Our relationship sucks,” he said ESPN“I say (to them), ‘I’m going to buy you a really nice house,’ and the answer is, ‘That’s not good enough’… then you sell my shit?”
Vanessa seemed to suggest she regretted her late husband’s rift with his parents
In 2016, Kobe revealed that he hadn’t spoken to his parents Joe (right) and Pam (left) for nearly three years
Kobe had spent two decades with Vanessa before he tragically died in a helicopter crash
Kobe and his daughter Gianna were killed along with seven others when their helicopter crashed in Calabasas, California in January 2020.
They had flown from John Wayne Airport, near his Newport Beach home, and were en route to Bryant’s Mamba Basketball Academy in Thousand Oaks when they crashed into a hill.
Kobe had been together with his wife Vanessa for twenty years when he passed away. The couple had started a relationship in 1999 and met on the set of his music video.
They became engaged shortly after Vanessa turned 18, and married in 2001.