Vanessa Bryant honors Kobe Bryant: 'The best girl dad -- Happy Father's Day'
Vanessa Bryant paid tribute to her late husband Kobe Bryant in a heartwarming Instagram post Sunday for Father’s Day, calling him “the best girl dad.”
Bryant shared a photo of her husband from 2019 when their youngest daughter, Capri, was born. The photo shows Kobe holding Capri in his arms with their other daughters, Natalia, Gianna and Bianka, by his side.
“To the best girl dad -- Happy Father’s Day, Papi. We love you forever and always, always and forever,” she wrote. “Love you always, Nani, Gigi, B.B, Koko and VB.”
The term, “Girl Dad,” went viral on shortly after Kobe Bryant’s death in January 2020. As many mourned the loss of the basketball star and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna..
The trend began when ESPN’s Elle Duncan shared a memory of the first time she met the basketball legend. Duncan was anchoring “SportsCenter” at the time and remembered how Kobe Bryant was thrilled to know he was becoming a father for the fourth time to another daughter.
“I would have five more girls if I could,” Bryant told Duncan. “I’m a girl dad.”
Since Kobe Bryant’s death, Vanessa Bryant and her daughters have continued to honor him and his legacy.
Vanessa Bryant spoke about her husband in May as he was inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame.
“I wish my husband was here to accept this incredible award. He and Gigi deserved to be here to witness this. Gigi would have been so proud to see her daddy get enshrined in the basketball Hall of Fame,” she said during Kobe Bryant’s Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement speech. “I know Kobe was really looking forward to being here. He asked the Hall of Fame to specifically add a sixth ticket for Capri. He was so happy.”
“There will never be anyone like Kobe,” she said. “Kobe was one-of-a-kind. He was special, he was humble -- off the court -- but bigger than life.”
During her speech, Vanessa Bryant also thanked everyone who has been there for their family after Kobe Bryant's death.
“I know Kobe is thankful that you’re all coming through for his girls,” she said. “We love you all and we’re forever grateful for you.”
