Kobe Bryant Fans Frustrated Joe and Pam Bryant Were Not Mentioned at All During Celebration of Life Memorial
Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and the seven other victims of a Jan. 26 helicopter crash were [...]
Such a sad day for so many. Yet my WHOLE HEART ACHES for #PamBryant and #JoeBryant Kobe's parents, who are present at the #StaplesCenter but have not been acknowledged by ANYONE. They are his PARENTS. 💔 pic.twitter.com/MwgTb0agAS
— Traci with an i #FlyEaglesFly 🦅 (@SheBleedsGreen) February 24, 2020
One Bryant fan initially mentioned Pam and Joe while saying that her heart aches for the parents of the late NBA icon. She was heartbroken by the fact that no one had mentioned them during this long ceremony.
To further her point, this fan posted an image of an old newspaper article about Joe. This story focused on Bryant's father getting a coaching job and how it would impact both the girls' and boys' basketball teams.
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loved #KobeFarewell but to have Kobe’s parents & siblings not mentioned...Kobe did not get here via immaculate conception. Before Kobe was Kobe, he was Joe Bryant’s son the first to introduce him to the game, he was Pam Bryant’s son, his first love of a woman, he was a brother...
— She (@LOVE_HER_FAMILY) February 24, 2020
The ceremony on Monday was viewed as beautiful, but there were still some critical comments posted on social media. These fans didn't have any ill intentions; they just wanted to highlight the important figures at the Staples Center.
As many fans explained, Joe and Pam were the ones that brought Bryant into the world and taught him to love basketball. Why weren't they mentioned by any of the speakers?
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I feel Vanessa Bryant ‘s pain but people should also remember that Kobe came from Pam and Joe Bryant . They may not be perfect but i am sure that Kobe loves them. Mamba Mentality isnt about hate, only greatness and that includes forgiveness. I heard GIGI loves his grandpa😭 #RIP pic.twitter.com/G6OMpW74V2
— Lakers Granny (@LakersGranny) February 24, 2020
There were some users on social media that saw the tweets about Joe and Pam and responded by bringing up history. It's a well-known fact that Bryant's parents didn't attend his wedding to Vanessa, and some users felt that this was the reason behind them not being mentioned during the ceremony.
Other fans, however, know about the family history and feel that it shouldn't have played a role in the celebration of life. In their opinion, Joe and/or Pam should have been included in the list of speakers.
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It would be a SHAME before GOD if they exclude #Kobe’s parents from speaking at the services today! I dont care WHAT happened! That would be COLD! NEVER forget! Do the right thing! Period! #KobeFarewell #KobeandGianna #JoeBryant #JellyBeanBryant #kobeandgigi #kobememorial
— Angela Blair (@Angela_Blair) February 24, 2020
Joe and Pam weren't mentioned during the celebration of life event, which greatly angered many of the fans on social media. They felt that the lack of acknowledgment was shameful.
There may have been some contention in the past, but the users on Twitter felt that this shouldn't matter. They wanted to leave the issues in the past and focus on the important relationships.
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No pics of him and his parents. All of him and Vanessa. It was a beautiful event but wished to see early family pics. #kobeparents
— ~~Fam C.~~ (@HelloVal02) February 24, 2020
The celebration of life on Monday drew considerable attention for the speeches by Shaquille O'Neal, Vanessa, and Michael Jordan, but there were some fans that also expressed frustration at the lack of mention of Bryant's parents.
Other fans noticed that the lack of acknowledgment extended to the massive video board that showed family photos during the ceremony. There were plenty of pictures featuring Bryant and Vanessa, but his parents were not included.
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Speak on it! Bc I was wondering.. they buried a child! I feel horrible for them! I pray for all of them to heal, I really do.🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 before he was Mamba, before he was a husband, he was their child
— JoyEliz (@joy_eliz215) February 24, 2020
Monday was a very emotional day for all members of the Bryant family. Vanessa was mourning the loss of her husband and one of her daughters. Joe and Pam were mourning the death of their son.
There were several viewers that wanted to specifically mention Bryant's parents and the pain that they were dealing with during the ceremony. This couple lost a beloved child, and the fans wanted this fact mentioned.
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You’re right. They have been invisible throughout all of this ordeal. What a shame.
— The Black Sage™☮️🍌 (@TBlackSage) February 24, 2020
Following Bryant's death in the helicopter crash, the focus has been on his wife and three surviving daughters. However, there are fans wondering why other members of his family have not been mentioned. It's as if his parents and sisters are invisible.
"I tweeted the same thing! Acknowledge his parents and his sisters!!! SOMEBODY. ANYBODY," another Bryant fan wrote on Monday. They were stunned that the members of Bryant's family had not been mentioned during the ceremony.
(Photo Credit: Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)
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