“Kobe loved him very much,” Vanessa wrote about Joe Bryant in a social media post.
Vanessa Bryant has expressed her condolences and support following the death of Joe Bryant, the father of her late husband, Kobe Bryant.
The 42-year-old widow paid tribute to Joe, who died at the age of 69 after reportedly suffering a massive stroke.
Joe Bryant’s death comes four and a half years after his son, then 41, and granddaughter, Gianna, 13, were killed in a helicopter crash.
Kobe Bryant had a problematic relationship with his father, Joe, later in his life. The two had been close for many years, but their relationship deteriorated after the Lakers legend found fame and fortune in the NBA.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the conflict between father and son stems from Kobe’s relationship with his wife, Vanessa.
Kobe once revealed that his parents did not approve of Vanessa because she was Latina and not African-American. Notably, Joe and his wife Pamela did not attend the couple’s wedding in April 2001.
In 2005, Kobe and his father appeared to patch things up when Joe was hired to coach the WNBA’s LA Sparks. Joe also celebrated with Kobe when the Lakers won the 2010 NBA title.
However, their relationship deteriorates dramatically when Joe and Pamela attempt to auction off a large memorabilia collection from Kobe’s career, which he had given them without his knowledge.
Joe and Pam both attended Kobe’s funeral in January 2020. However, it is unclear how their relationship was at the time of his death.
Vanessa took to Instagram on Tuesday afternoon to pay her respects after her father-in-law died while also appearing to express regret over her husband’s disagreements with his parents, Joe and Pam.
“Sending our condolences upon hearing the news of my father-in-law’s passing,” Vanessa wrote in a post on Instagram Stories.
She continued, “We hoped things would’ve been different. Although the times we spent together were few, he was always sweet and nice to be around. Kobe loved him very much. Our prayers go out to the family.”
Thoughts and prayers are with the Bryant family during this time of mourning.
