Vanessa Bryant, the widow of the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant, has revealed that she first learned of her husband’s tragic death by seeing notifications with “RIP Kobe” on her phone. This heartbreaking revelation came as part of her ongoing lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, in which she alleges negligence and invasion of privacy.
The devastating incident occurred in January 2020 when Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven others lost their lives in a helicopter crash. Vanessa Bryant is suing the department for alleged misconduct regarding the handling of the aftermath.
During a deposition, Ms. Bryant was asked about her initial awareness of the crash. She explained that a family assistant initially informed her of the helicopter accident involving her husband and daughter. She was led to believe that there were survivors, including Kobe and Gianna. However, her hopes were dashed as her phone began inundating her with messages that read, “RIP Kobe. RIP Kobe.”
As she recalled, “I was holding onto my phone, because obviously I was trying to call my husband back, and all these notifications started popping up on my phone, saying ‘RIP Kobe. RIP Kobe. RIP Kobe.'”
This revelation highlights the sheer shock and emotional turmoil Vanessa Bryant went through in the immediate aftermath of the accident. The tragic loss of her husband and daughter, followed by the heart-wrenching notifications, left an indelible mark on her life. “My life will never be the same without my husband and daughter,” she expressed during the deposition.
In addition to her suit against the Sheriff’s Department, Vanessa Bryant has also accused several officers of sharing graphic photos from the crash scene, including images of Kobe and Gianna’s bodies. She publicly disclosed the names of these officers in March. According to her allegations, one officer shared such photos with a bartender, while others disseminated “gratuitous photos of the dead children, parents, and coaches.”
Vanessa Bryant’s fight for accountability is rooted in her belief that no one should endure the pain and fear that she and her family experienced. She laments the release of these images, emphasizing that it is unacceptable.
Furthermore, Ms. Bryant shared that she has retained the clothing her husband and daughter wore on that fateful day. She expressed her dismay at the callousness of those who would share such images, likening the victims to animals on the street. The ongoing lawsuit against the Sheriff’s Department represents her quest for justice and a desire to ensure that no one else has to go through a similar ordeal.
The Sheriff’s Department has not provided public comments on the lawsuit.