Her husband Kobe Bryant and daughter Gigi died in a California helicopter crash alongside seven others on January 26.
And on Thursday, Vanessa Bryant shared an excerpt of Kobe’s 2015 Muse Documentary, which featured the song XO by Beyonce.
Vanessa wrote: ‘Missing you both so much,’ sweetly adding ‘even missing your “earthquakes” – (leg shakes).’
Bittersweet: Vanessa Bryant shared an excerpt of Kobe’s 2015 Muse Documentary, which featured the song XO by Beyonce
Vanessa added, ‘Song is XO by @Beyonce,’ before adding the lyrics.
The clip of the documentary shows Vanessa and Kobe with daughters Natalia and Gianna hanging out and sharing sweet cuddles.
The emotional footage shows the family of four playing a card game before he comes and kisses Vanessa as well as sharing a dance with Gianna.
Natalia hugs him and then he kisses Vanessa sweetly again; Kobe cuddles Gianna before she sits on his lap, next to Vanessa, and he playfully shakes his legs.
Family is everything: Vanessa wrote: ‘Missing you both so much,’ sweetly adding ‘even missing your “earthquakes” – (leg shakes)’
Note: Vanessa added, ‘Song is XO by @Beyonce,’ before adding the lyrics
So sweet: Kobe pictured dancing with Gianna in the footage from the 2015 documentary
Love: The father-daughter duo pictured
Happiness: Vanessa pictured with Natalia
Daddy’s girl: Gianna sweetly went to the couch and sat on her dad’s lap in the footage
Family: Vanessa pictured with Kobe and Gianna
Family time: Kobe hugged Natalia close near their Christmas tree in the footage
Sweet kisses: Kobe was seen in the footage smooching Vanessa before sitting next to her and hugging and kissing her
The documentary, directed by Gotham Chopra, explored Kobe’s allies, rivalries and mentorships during his 20 seasons in the NBA.
Vanessa, 37, has three surviving daughters with her late husband, who was 41 when he died – Natalia, 17, Bianka, 3, and Capri, seven months.
The footage comes three days after Kobe and Gianna’s public memorial at STAPLES Center, where Beyonce kicked off the proceedings performing XO and then Halo.
She had told the crowd: ‘I’m here because I love Kobe and this was one of his favorite songs.
Beaming: Kobe, Vanessa and their daughters were seen playing a card game
So happy: Vanessa with Gianna grinning ear to ear
Start: The footage comes three days after Kobe and Gianna’s public memorial at STAPLES Center, where Beyonce kicked off the proceedings by performing XO and then Halo
Remembering: She had told the crowd: ‘I’m here because I love Kobe and this was one of his favorite songs
Fans noticed a slight change to the lyrics as she delicately changed the words to XO, swapping ‘crashing into you’, for ‘laughing into you’.
And as she finished her second Halo, Beyonce spoke directly to Kobe’s widow. ‘I can feel it / He will be your / She will be your halo,’ sang the 38-year-old, again changing the lyrics.
Introduced as ‘a very close friend of the Bryant family’, Beyonce directed her song towards the spot where Kobe’s wife Vanessa Bryant sat with her family.
‘I’m here because I love Kobe and this was one of his favorite songs,’ Beyonce shared. Pointing up to the sky, she added: ‘I want you to sing it so loud, they’ll hear your love.’
Clearly emotional, she nonetheless managed to smile as she looked at Vanessa.
XO: Fans noticed a slight change to the lyrics as she delicately changed the words to XO, swapping ‘crashing into you’, for ‘laughing into you’
Beyonce had known Kobe and his wife since at least 1999, when he made a cameo appearance in Destiny’s Child’s video for Bug-a-Boo.
After Kobe’s death, Beyonce shared her own tribute on social media, writing: ‘I will continue to diligently pray for your Queens. You are deeply missed beloved Kobe.’
Monday’s sold-out service took place at the downtown arena where Bryant played for the Los Angeles Lakers for 20 seasons – his entire professional basketball career.
Vanessa offered a poignant portrait of her NBA superstar husband and their adored daughter at the sold-out service.
Support: During the memorial, Beyonce comforted Vanessa
Thoughtful: The singer put her hand on Vanessa’s shoulder with her head down
Speaking at times through tears, the 37-year-old praised her husband’s devotion as she addressed the thousands of fans gathered at Staples Center to remember Bryant and 13-year-old Gianna.
‘God knew they couldn’t be on this Earth without each other,’ Vanessa Bryant said. ‘He had to bring them home to have them together. Babe, you take care of our Gigi.’
After Jimmy Kimmel welcomed the crowd, Vanessa remembered the family’s life with Gianna and her three siblings and then eulogized her husband. They had been together since 1999.
‘He was the most amazing husband,’ she said.
Strength: Vanessa Bryant offered a poignant portrait of her NBA superstar husband and their adored daughter at the sold-out service
‘Kobe loved me more than I could ever express or put into words. I was fire. He was ice. Vice versa at times. … He was my everything.’
The mourners included Lakers greats such as Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Pau Gasol. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver joined Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson and dozens of current NBA players, including Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving and Los Angeles natives James Harden, Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan. Celebrities such as Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez also attended.
Vanessa was followed on the podium by basketball stars Diana Taurasi and Sabrina Ionescu. Kobe was a passionate advocate for women’s basketball, and Gigi was a promising young player.
Michael: The mourners included Lakers greats such as Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Pau Gasol. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver joined Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson and dozens of current NBA players, including Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving and Los Angeles natives James Harden, Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan. Celebrities such as Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez also attended
Grief: ‘Kobe loved me more than I could ever express or put into words. I was fire. He was ice. Vice versa at times. … He was my everything’
‘If I represented the present of the women’s game, Gigi represented the future, and Kobe knew it,’ said Ionescu, the Oregon star who was mentored by Bryant.
At the arena, fans were given a program containing photos, a purple KB pin and a T-shirt with photos of the father and daughter. The concourse was a sea of purple, gold and black clothing.
Money from ticket sales was to be given to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, which supports youth sports programs in underserved communities and teaches sports to girls and women.
A private funeral was held for Kobe and Gianna Bryant in Orange County on February 7.
RIP: Kobe died on Sunday, January 26, 2020 after his helicopter crashed on a hillside in Calabasas, California alongside his daughter Gianna, 13, and seven others: John Altobelli, 56, Keri Altobelli, 46, Alyssa Altobelli, 14, Payton Chester, 13, Sarah Chester, 45, Christina Mauser, 38, and pilot Ara Zobayan, 50
Kobe died on Sunday, January 26, 2020 after his helicopter crashed on a hillside in Calabasas, California alongside his daughter Gianna, 13, and seven others: John Altobelli, 56, Keri Altobelli, 46, Alyssa Altobelli, 14, Payton Chester, 13, Sarah Chester, 45, Christina Mauser, 38, and pilot Ara Zobayan, 50.
They were flying from Orange County to the Mamba Sports Academy, which he founded, in Thousand Oaks, California.
He was set to coach his daughter in the Mamba Cup Tournament Series.
Love: Vanessa, 37, has three surviving daughters with her late husband, who was 41 when he died – Natalia, 17, Bianka, 3, and Capri, seven months; pictured with Kobe and Gianna