Vanessa Bryant Speaks Out After The Passing Of Joe Bryant

Vanessa Bryant is breaking her silence after the passing of her father-in-law, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant. In a new post on her Instagram stories, Bryant expressed her feelings about the loss.

“Sending our condolences upon hearing the news of my father-in-law’s passing,” she wrote. “We hoped things would’ve been different. Although the times we spent together were few, he was always sweet and nice to be around.”

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As we previously reported, the news of the Los Angeles Lakers legend’s father’s passing was confirmed on Tuesday, as reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer. Fran Dunphy, the head basketball coach at La Salle University, shared with the outlet that Bryant had been facing health challenges and had recently experienced a severe stroke on the same day.

Kobe Bryant and his parents had a strained relationship for many years. There were notable instances such as their absence from his wedding, indicating the challenges in their bond. Reports suggested attempts were made over time to mend the relationship. However, in 2013, a dispute arose between Kobe and his parents regarding the sale of memorabilia from his high school basketball career and early Lakers days. His parents argued they needed to sell the items to purchase a home, but Kobe asserted he had not authorized such a sale.

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During a 2016 interview with ESPN, Kobe, known as the Black Mamba, disclosed that he had not communicated with his parents for three years.

“Our relationship is s–t,” he said. “I say [to them], ‘I’m going to buy you a very nice home, and the response is ‘That’s not good enough’?” he continued. “Then you’re selling my s–t?”

A resolution was reached that permitted Kobe’s parents to auction off six items, resulting in a total of $500,000.

“We regret our actions and statements related to the Kobe Bryant auction memorabilia,” the statement from his parents read, obtained by ESPN at the time. “We apologize for any misunderstanding and unintended pain we may have caused our son and appreciate the financial support that he has provided to us over the years.”

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