The Bryants and seven others died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on January 26. Kobe Bryant was 41 years old, and his daughter—the second oldest of four—was 13.
Crowds of mourners began forming near the basketball arena where Kobe played for 20 seasons early on Monday while social media was flooded with messages of grief. #KobeFarewall was trending on Twitter after hundreds of people used the hashtag to say their final goodbyes and send their condolences to Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, 37, and his three surviving children, daughter Natalia Bryant, 17, Bianka Bryant, 3, and 8-month-old Capri Bryant.
“Good morning. Today is the day we all have to say goodbye to these two beautiful souls. It’ll never feel real. Let us all pray for Vanessa & the entire Bryant family today & all the other families affected. Remember to hug your loved ones always. #KobeFarewell #MambaForever,” one Twitter user wrote on Monday.
Another wrote: “There is no #24 without #2. Trying to find peace in such a tragic accident. #KobeFarewell.”
Many fans used the hashtag to share stories of how Kobe Bryant impacted their lives and the many ways they planned to keep his famous “Mamba Mentality” alive. The term, coined by Bryant in his 2018 book, The Mamba Mentality, describes his relentless work ethic on and off the court.
“I still can’t believe that Kobe is gone. He’s been my role model as a professional displaying grit and ambition. He influenced my work ethic—I’ve worked countless and tiring hours in order to reach my goals. Mamba Mentality,” one person wrote.
Vanessa Bryant first announced plans for the memorial in early February, noting Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant’s jersey numbers, #24 and #2, respectively. “#2 #24, #20 years as a Laker and the amount of years Kob and I were together,” she wrote on Instagram.
Thousands are expected to pack out the Staples Center for the memorial, which can seat up to 20,000 for non-sports events. Tickets for the service were sold in advance, ranging from $24.02 to $224 in price. All proceeds from the memorial will go toward the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation—Kobe Bryant’s nonprofit organization that funds underprivileged communities and aspiring athletes.
See a few more farewell tweets to Kobe and Gianna Bryant below.
