On Sunday, shocking news emerged that a helicopter carrying basketball player Kobe Bryant had crashed into a hill in southern California. In the hours following the helicopter crash, it was confirmed that among the 9 passengers who lost their lives was the famous athlete’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna “Gigi” Bryant. The passengers were on the way to Bryant’s youth basketball academy. It was later revealed that the rest of the passengers onboard were Gianna’s teammate Alyssa Altobelli, her parents John and Keri Altobelli, basketball coach Christina Mauser, Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton Chester, and pilot Ara Zobayan.
Since news of the fatal accident spread, many celebrities, and public figures have been posting tributes to the famous basketball player’s career and legacy, as well as expressing condolences to the families of the passengers, including Bryant’s wife Vanessa and three other daughters.
The NBA issued a public statement in which Commissioner Adam Silver praised Bryant’s achievements, and, in particular, the elite athlete’s dedication to his daughter, also an avid basketball player who was frequently seen attending games with him: “He was generous with the wisdom he acquired and saw it as his mission to share it with future generations of players, taking special delight in passing down his love of the game to Gianna.”
People are looking back on pictures of Kobe and Gianna “Gigi” Bryant
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Kobe explaining the game to Gigi in a video that went viral last month
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Gianna, Bryant’s second-oldest daughter, was set to play in a youth basketball tournament on the day of the crash, with her team coached by her famous father. He often posted videos from her practices on his Instagram. In 2018, he told Jimmy Kimmel that she was proud to be his heir, responding to a fan’s comment that he should have a son to carry on his legacy with “I got this. You don’t need no boy for that!” The basketball department of the University of Connecticut, for which the teenager had aspired to play one day, also posted a message of condolences to the Bryant family on Twitter.
People speak out about Bryant’s death
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Honestly, I'm not even a basketball fan and have probably only seen him in a few game snippets here and there. But when I saw the Gardian post with his picture just being a happy man that he always seemed to be, I genuinely felt something resonate deep within. When I later read that his daughter was there too, it hit even more. My thoughts and prayers to his family, friends and fans who have lost such an amazing person. Rest in Peace 😔🙏🏻
Yes, people do remember what happened 17 years ago
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I've known him since I was a kid. I remember my boy cousins and neighbors back in Kobe's early years when he plays, everyone gathers to a house which had good quality television (not all of us had tv before) I remember their screams of excitement whenever he shoots, dunks, everything. To them, he was extraordinary. A role model. Basketball fan or not, Lakers fan or not, everyone knew him. Everyone knew he was a good man. His death broke our hearts. Rest in paradise, Kobe, Gigi, and to the people with him that died. A lot has already happened, and it's still January.
Did the woman he violently sexually assaulted years ago ever have children? I can't imagine how hard it must be to be a survivor of sexual assault and hear the man who assaulted you treated like a saint after his death by the public who treated you like a liar. I feel bad for this man's family, for his wife and his kids who have to grow up without a father. I also still feel bad for his victim, who had her life dragged and destroyed by Kobe and his team AND the public after he sexually assaulted her when she was 19 years old. Death does not erase bad deeds. This man did good with his life, he also did incredible harm.
I thought the same thing. No one is just one thing. You can be a sports star/celebrity who gives back to their community and puts a lot of positivity into the world AND be a rapist. One does not negate or forgive the other.
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how terrible for the mom/wife. I hope she has the support she will need in the coming months and years, so sad
He’s been a role model to so many people. May he Rest In Peace
I LOVE YOU KOBE AND GIGI : DON'T GIVE UP MAMBA original-8...6cb1d8.jpg 
there is no word that is even close to explaining the emotions and pain im going through right now , it feels like only yesterday Gigi and kobe were playing on the court
I miss Kobe and Gigi so much I can't even imagine what his wife Vanessa and all of his kids just want their dad and amazing sister back. Enjoy your time with your family while you can because you or them can be gone tomorrow,tonight anytime. And I want to say that 2 beautiful legends are in Heaven together right now. My Kobe Bryant and Gigi Bryant rest in peace. I hope they are hugging right now.
To everyone who is dissing Kobe for raping the girl, raping the girl was a very, very bad thing to do, but I forgive for it. I hope you can grow a heart and do the same. Also, how do you feel about disowning a dead man? Brave keyboard warrior.
Thinking of his daughter rips my heart out even more, because she was my age. Only 13. Makes me think how life can so easily be taken away even when you are just beginning to blossom into a woman and make a future for yourself. I hope she's at peace, and I can't even imagine what their family is going through right now.
I am a huge fan of him and love his daughter gigi i was not at home to watch the news i did not find out until monday evening when i was watching tiktok i was crying for hours , imagine what they said to each other knowing they wouldnt make it , how devastating it is to have so much celebrities die from the last too years , xxxtentaction , cameron boyce , juice wrld , kobe and gigi , . how does his wife handle this that have a daughter who isnt even a year old , a kid who will never really get to have a father figure in her life , and the other girls they lost not only their father but their sister , and for his wifev , its hard to lose a child , but to lose a child and your spouse at the same time , thats just crazy .
I didn't know him, as I didn't watch basketball, but my heart still breaks for this family. I can't even imagine what it must be like to the rest of the family. The unthinkable happened.
I could not imagine losing my husband and daughter in such a horrific and shocking event. My heart and prayers go out to the Bryant family.
2020 is starting off great. Between bushfires, disease, war, and losing Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant, I don’t think my heart can handle much more.
Honestly, I'm not even a basketball fan and have probably only seen him in a few game snippets here and there. But when I saw the Gardian post with his picture just being a happy man that he always seemed to be, I genuinely felt something resonate deep within. When I later read that his daughter was there too, it hit even more. My thoughts and prayers to his family, friends and fans who have lost such an amazing person. Rest in Peace 😔🙏🏻
Yes, people do remember what happened 17 years ago
Load More Replies... I've known him since I was a kid. I remember my boy cousins and neighbors back in Kobe's early years when he plays, everyone gathers to a house which had good quality television (not all of us had tv before) I remember their screams of excitement whenever he shoots, dunks, everything. To them, he was extraordinary. A role model. Basketball fan or not, Lakers fan or not, everyone knew him. Everyone knew he was a good man. His death broke our hearts. Rest in paradise, Kobe, Gigi, and to the people with him that died. A lot has already happened, and it's still January.
Did the woman he violently sexually assaulted years ago ever have children? I can't imagine how hard it must be to be a survivor of sexual assault and hear the man who assaulted you treated like a saint after his death by the public who treated you like a liar. I feel bad for this man's family, for his wife and his kids who have to grow up without a father. I also still feel bad for his victim, who had her life dragged and destroyed by Kobe and his team AND the public after he sexually assaulted her when she was 19 years old. Death does not erase bad deeds. This man did good with his life, he also did incredible harm.
I thought the same thing. No one is just one thing. You can be a sports star/celebrity who gives back to their community and puts a lot of positivity into the world AND be a rapist. One does not negate or forgive the other.
Load More Replies... how terrible for the mom/wife. I hope she has the support she will need in the coming months and years, so sad
He’s been a role model to so many people. May he Rest In Peace
I LOVE YOU KOBE AND GIGI : DON'T GIVE UP MAMBA original-8...6cb1d8.jpg
there is no word that is even close to explaining the emotions and pain im going through right now , it feels like only yesterday Gigi and kobe were playing on the court
I miss Kobe and Gigi so much I can't even imagine what his wife Vanessa and all of his kids just want their dad and amazing sister back. Enjoy your time with your family while you can because you or them can be gone tomorrow,tonight anytime. And I want to say that 2 beautiful legends are in Heaven together right now. My Kobe Bryant and Gigi Bryant rest in peace. I hope they are hugging right now.
To everyone who is dissing Kobe for raping the girl, raping the girl was a very, very bad thing to do, but I forgive for it. I hope you can grow a heart and do the same. Also, how do you feel about disowning a dead man? Brave keyboard warrior.
Thinking of his daughter rips my heart out even more, because she was my age. Only 13. Makes me think how life can so easily be taken away even when you are just beginning to blossom into a woman and make a future for yourself. I hope she's at peace, and I can't even imagine what their family is going through right now.
I am a huge fan of him and love his daughter gigi i was not at home to watch the news i did not find out until monday evening when i was watching tiktok i was crying for hours , imagine what they said to each other knowing they wouldnt make it , how devastating it is to have so much celebrities die from the last too years , xxxtentaction , cameron boyce , juice wrld , kobe and gigi , . how does his wife handle this that have a daughter who isnt even a year old , a kid who will never really get to have a father figure in her life , and the other girls they lost not only their father but their sister , and for his wifev , its hard to lose a child , but to lose a child and your spouse at the same time , thats just crazy .
I didn't know him, as I didn't watch basketball, but my heart still breaks for this family. I can't even imagine what it must be like to the rest of the family. The unthinkable happened.
I could not imagine losing my husband and daughter in such a horrific and shocking event. My heart and prayers go out to the Bryant family.
2020 is starting off great. Between bushfires, disease, war, and losing Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant, I don’t think my heart can handle much more.
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