Sports

Vanessa Bryant Shares Heartbreaking Post on Anniversary of Kobe and Gianna’s Deaths: 'It Still Doesn’t Seem Real'

On the one-year anniversary of Kobe and Gianna Bryant's deaths, Vanessa Bryant shared a touching letter she received from one of Gigi's friends.

kobe vanessa
Image via Getty/Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Getty

On the one-year anniversary of Kobe and Gianna Bryant's deaths, Vanessa Bryant took to Instagram, where she shared a touching letter she received from one of Gigi's friends.

"Today I received this sweet letter from one of Gianna’s best friends, Aubrey," she wrote alongside the letter itself. "Thank you so much for beautifully sharing some of your memories of my Gigi with me and allowing me to share them here on my ig. My Gigi is INCREDIBLE and I truly appreciate your thoughtful letter. She loves you so much. I miss my baby girl and Kob-Kob so much, too."

With their absence still weighing heavy, she continued, "I will never understand why/how this tragedy could’ve happened to such beautiful, kind and amazing human beings. It still doesn’t seem real. Kob, we did it right. Gigi, you still make mommy proud. I love you!" The letter itself sees Aubrey write of her appreciation for Gigi, and that if she ever becomes a mother, "I hope my daughter turns out exactly as yours did."

Aubrey adds that Gianna pushed for her "to be better," and that her "fights for equality in sports made the world reconsider their opinions." Read Aubrey's full letter to Vanessa below.

Kobe and Gianna died in a helicopter accident alongside seven others while en route to a basketball game on Jan. 26. Gianna was 13, and Kobe was 41. Just over a week ago, Vanessa opened up about how she struggled with her grief following their deaths. "I want to say this for people struggling with grief and heartbreaking loss. Find your reason to live. I know it's hard,” she wrote on Instagram. “I look at my daughters and I try to push through that feeling for them."

Related Stories

vanessa bryant
sports

Vanessa Bryant Opens Up About Her Grief: 'Find Your Reason to Live'

Vanessa Bryant shares her experience with grief as we near the one-year anniversary of the death of her husband Kobe Bryant and their daughter Gianna. 

Kobe Bryant Getty
sneakers

Kobe Bryant Was Allegedly Considering Leaving Nike to Start Own Sneaker Brand

New reports are suggesting that the late basketball icon Kobe Bryant had plans to start his own sneaker company prior to his death. Click here to learn more.

Victor Deng1953 days ago
lakers rings
sports

Los Angeles Lakers Championship Rings Feature Kobe Bryant Tribute

The huge rings, which were designed by Jason of Beverly Hills with help from Don C, contain 16.45 carats and 804 stones, as well as tributes to Kobe Bryant.

Abel Shifferaw1959 days ago

Stay ahead on Exclusives

Download the Complex App