The Staples Center was packed today, as celebrities, athletes, and fans came together for a memorial service honoring Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, both of whom died in a helicopter crash nearly a month ago.
As expected, the event was a celebration of Kobe’s life on and off the court. It was also really damn sad, as even after some time has passed people are still in shock that he died at such a young age, at the beginning of such a promising post-basketball career. They naturally took to Twitter to share their reactions, and we gathered some of the most notable ones.
One of the featured speakers was Bryant’s former agent and current Lakers GM Rob Pelinka. He shared a story of the last time they communicated, with a few texts on the morning of the accident. Bryant was trying to set up an internship for the daughter of John Altobelli, the baseball coach who also perished in the crash.
Rob Pelinka’s speech at Kobe’s memorial had me sobbing so much. The story of that last text just goes to show how genuine Kobe was. #KobeFarewell
— krissy🍀 (@krissyy_elyse) February 24, 2020
This story of Rob Pelinka’s last text message conversation with Kobe is gut wrenching. Damn.
— The Undefeated (@TheUndefeated) February 24, 2020
Performances from Beyoncé and Alicia Keys were greeted with awe and appreciation. Beyoncé chose one of Kobe’s favorite songs, “XO,” and performed it with sparse instrumentation and a full choir.
Beyoncé's tribute to Kobe is so gorgeous and masterful that honestly, I want someone to just play it at my funeral too. #KobeFarewellpic.twitter.com/L6dIK0iJUE
— Dave Quinn (@NineDaves) February 24, 2020
her nails spell Gigi #KobeFarewell pic.twitter.com/2zcNvMLG9F
— Moses Thee Stallion 🅴 (@35CHAlNS) February 24, 2020
Alicia Keys played “Moonlight Sonata,” the famous Beethoven composition that Bryant and his wife Vanessa loved, which Bryant taught himself to play on the piano as a surprise for her.
Alicia Keys performing Kobe and Gianna’s favorite music piece. #KobeFarewell 💔😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/bnP7S4Eqry
— . (@Leitz4U) February 24, 2020
The most emotional speech of the event, unsurprisingly, came from Vanessa Bryant. That she gathered the strength to even appear in the first place was impressive.
God bless Vanessa Bryant. I don’t know where she has found the strength but I know that ain’t nothing but God #ForKobeAndGigi
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) February 24, 2020
I’ve delivered eulogies for people who I loved deeply, but I can’t imagine doing what Vanessa Bryant did today. That was just superhuman.
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) February 24, 2020
Watching Vanessa Bryant talking about her daughter Gigi, is breaking my heart. While she struggles to maintain her composure, her love and pride in her daughter's memory comes through just as powerfully as her sorrow and loss. #KobeFarewell
— Tracy Maher (@tracym) February 24, 2020
After her eulogy, Michael Jordan helped Vanessa Bryant off of the stage, a moment that resonated with lots of fans.
Michael Jordan’s greatest assist in his career. #KobeFarewell pic.twitter.com/xG0Jacj8nI
— Sam Anderson (@Sam4nd) February 24, 2020
Jordan also had the joke of the day — a weird thing to say about a memorial — when he joked that he’d “have to look at another crying meme” as he spoke with tears streaming down his face.
Michael Jordan, as always, with the game winner. We were all thinking about the crying meme watching Jordan on the podium. #ForKobeAndGigi
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) February 24, 2020
In the more serious sections of his speech, Jordan called Kobe his “little brother,” which made the fact that he was delivering the eulogy feel even sadder and stranger.
The fact that Michael Jordan has to eulogize Kobe Bryant. Wow. #KobeFarewell
— Awesomely Luvvie (@Luvvie) February 24, 2020
Michael Jordan memorializing Kobe Bryant. Surreal doesn’t even begin to describe this moment.
— The Undefeated (@TheUndefeated) February 24, 2020
When Kobe Bryant entered the league, people understandably talked about how much his idol Michael Jordan inspired him. Today, in his eulogy, MJ showed how much he actually learned & is continuing to learn from his "little bother." Incredible. Inspire your idols. #KobeFarewell
— Andrés Tardio ✍🏽 📷 (@AndresWrites) February 24, 2020
I covered Michael Jordan in Chicago and Washington. I thought I had already seen the last of his knockout performances. I was wrong. That was exceptional and generous and exactly right.
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) February 24, 2020
Shaquille O’Neal, Bryant’s teammate for TK years, also provided a moment of brevity. When he remembered telling Kobe “There’s no ‘I’ in team” and getting the response “Yeah, but there’s an ‘ME’ in that motherfucker.”
God bless Shaq. He can bring a smile and laughter in any situation.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) February 24, 2020
LMAOOO kobe savage. I needed this Shaq story.
— . (@CountOnVic) February 24, 2020
The live feed had a few glitches during Shaq’s speech, which more than a few folks interpreted as Bryant playing a joke on his friend.
Kobe fuckin with the feed just to fuck with Shaq
— Isabel Aretas (@MzCandice_B) February 24, 2020
the feed got cut during Shaq's speech which let's me know you're allowed to troll your friends after death
— alex english (@alex3nglish) February 24, 2020
The memorial made it clear how much Kobe would be missed by his friends and peers. The reaction to the memorial made it clear how much everyone else would miss him too.
