Kobe Bryant will always and forever be loved by Vanessa Bryant.
Vanessa sent a heartfelt tribute in the basketball legend’s memory on social media on the day that would have been his 45th birthday. On August 23, she posted to Instagram a collection of images showing the couple over the years and added the message, “Happy birthday, baby. I will always and forever love you.
The couple could be seen together on several occasions, including when Kobe won an Academy Award in 2018 for Best Animated Short Film, according to the 41-year-old’s photo carousel.
Her commitment to the NBA player comes a little over three years after the devastating January 2020 helicopter crash that claimed the lives of both he and their 13-year-old daughter Gianna “Gigi” Bryant.
Since that time, Vanessa, who is also the mother of Natalia, 20, Bianka, 6, and Capri, 4, has made an effort to be there for her husband, particularly at significant occasions. Her remembrance actually comes the day after Vanessa gave her eldest daughter a floral bouquet that Kobe had personally autographed to celebrate Natalia starting her junior year at the University of Southern California.
Not to mention, Vanessa has concealed Kobe’s legacy on special occasions, the most recent one being a Taylor Swift concert in Los Angeles.
Kobe and the pop star were prominently featured on the back of Vanessa’s Eras Tour jacket, which she wore for the singer’s Aug. 3 performance at SoFi Stadium.
The portrait, which can be seen in pictures from her Instagram Stories, was taken in 2015 to thank Taylor for breaking the record for the most sold-out performances at Staples Center with Kobe. Vanessa also had a heart-shaped patch stitched onto the front of her garment with the lines “say you’ll remember me” (a line from Taylor’s song “Wildest Dreams”) on it.
The Grammy winner paid respect at the moment on social media after hearing about the tragedy that claimed the lives of Kobe, Gigi, and seven other people.
“My heart is in pieces hearing the news of this unimaginable tragedy,” Taylor wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, in January 2020. “I can’t fathom what the families are going through. Kobe meant so much to me and to us all. Sending my prayers, love, and endless condolences to Vanessa and the family and anyone who lost someone on that flight.”
