Vanessa Bryant's Heartwarming Response to Taylor Swift Donning Necklace Featuring Kobe Bryant's Inspiring Words
Vanessa Bryant, widow of Kobe Bryant, expresses heartfelt admiration as Taylor Swift embraces the memory of the late basketball legend by donning a necklace adorned with his inspiring words A touching tribute that resonates with the enduring legacy of Kobe's impact
Taylor Swift's enduring connection with the Bryant family remains as timeless as ever.
On Thursday, January 11, while strolling through New York City, Swift, 34, added a delicate silver necklace to her fuzzy jacket and leggings. This piece was part of a collection created for the Mambacita Foundation in collaboration with jewelry designer Zoë Chicco. Vanessa Bryant, the wife of the late basketball star Kobe Bryant, had partnered with Chicco to honor Kobe and their daughter Gianna. (Tragically, Kobe and Gianna passed away in a fatal helicopter crash in January 2020, at the ages of 41 and 13, respectively. In their memory, Vanessa established the non-profit organization Mambacita Foundation.)
Swift chose to wear a round pendant from the collection with the words "Bet on yourself," a phrase frequently used by Kobe, surrounded by a circle of diamonds. Vanessa, 41, shared a photo of Swift's jewelry on her Instagram Story on January 12, adding a caption expressing her love and using hearts and "Swifties" stickers.
Taylor Swift DAMEBK/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
During her TIME Person of the Year interview, Vanessa also noticed that Swift appeared to be making a reference to Kobe's "Bet on Yourself" mantra. In the December 2023 profile, she stated, "We met with all the studios and we met with all the streamers, and we sized up how it was perceived and valued, and if they had high hopes and dreams for it. Ultimately I did what I tend to do more and more often these days, which is to bet on myself."
After discovering an Easter egg in Swift's content, Vanessa posted a screenshot of the TIME article to her Story along with the message "Love you." Kobe's connection with Swift dates back to 2015, when he made a surprise appearance at her 1989 Tour stop in Los Angeles. To commemorate her unprecedented 16 sold-out concerts at the Lakers' arena, where Kobe played during his NBA career, he gifted her a championship banner to be hung from the rafters.
“Friends come and go, but banners hang forever @taylorswift,” Kobe posted on his Instagram at the time.
Following the tragic deaths of Kobe and Gianna, Swift expressed her condolences to Vanessa and her three other daughters, Natalia, Bianka, and Capri, who they shared.
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The news of the unimaginable tragedy has left my heart in pieces. It's hard to imagine what the families are going through. Kobe meant so much to me and to us all," Swift expressed on Twitter in January 2020. "My prayers, love, and endless condolences go out to Vanessa, the family, and anyone who lost someone on that flight."
Later in August 2023, Vanessa and her youngest children attended Swift's Eras Tour concert in L.A. during which Bianka, 6, was gifted the "22" hat featured in the Grammy winner’s October 2023 concert film.
