He died from a broken heart still!

He wasn’t just Kobe’s father; he was their children’s grandfather. It was disgusting on how Vanessa didn’t even let his parents speak at his memorial service. She’s trifling. Kobe was their son. I felt so bad for his parents during this time. The only person who even acknowledged his parents at the memorial was Shaquille O’Neal. Pure disrespect from everyone towards them. I pray God rest their soul 🙏🏿

Losing a child takes years off of your life

Yes, that's is young. I turned 70 on the 8th of this month. God Bless the Bryant family. ❤❤❤

Yes, Kempire 69yrs old is young. I'll turn 60 this year and l refuse to say that's old. RIP Joe Bryant! Love your reporting ❤❤❤❤

Vanessa Bryant's mother filed a lawsuit against her. I saw an interview with Vanessa's mother, who claimed that Vanessa attempted to reclaim the house and cars that Kobe had bought for her, even though Vanessa doesn't need the money. If she's capable of doing this to her own mother, it's not shocking what she did to Kobe's.

I believe this about Irv based on his behavior towards Ashanti

R.I.P Mr. Bryant 🫶🏾🙏🏾😢

Rest in Heaven Joe Jellybean Bryant. Blessings to the family 🙏🏾

I agree statement is cold. Sometimes it's best to not say anything

If you don't have anything good to say, SAY LESS, it appeared heartless to me, it wouldn't surprise me about Irv, I agree with you, the way he talked about Ashanti was crazy 😮

Kobe didn't love her parents enough to make sure they didn't struggle, but he made sure vanessa mother was well taken care of.

Honor thy father and mother

I never knew all this about Kobe's Dad. I can believe he could have died from a broken heart. Thats crazy now two widows. She really should bond with his Mom. She lost her son and husband 😢😢😢

It's never too late to make things right Vanessa Bryant. Pam could certainly use your authentic support both spiritually and financially. Karma is real

Rest in peace Joe Bryant

In the end, Vanessa Bryant will be left holding a bag full of money with no family or friends left to enjoy it with. "If greed was a person"... 😡

Vanessa, save all the fakeness. I wouldn't dare let her any where near the funeral.

It’s possible they would’ve been fine if she had said nothing

Aww, Kobe. I still 😭😭 thinking about when my youngest told me he passed. One of those days you remember where you were. Plus his beautiful baby. RIP the Bryant’s. Heartbreaking again 🙏🏽

She could have left out though the times we spent together were few. Unnecessary. Just acknowledge his passing and express condolences. Without him there is no kobe. They gave him an exceptional, rare childhood for a black male.

You know what? Kobe Bryant parents shouldn’t be struggling financially, because they were probably working so hard to make their son’ dream came true. For her to treat them that way, personally, I found it too harsh. Now, you are enjoying your lifestyle, knowing well that you can afford to support them. God doesn’t like ugly.

I very clearly remember an interview in which Joe Bryant stated about his and his wife's estrangement from Kobe, "One day, he'll understand why we are doing this." It sounded clearly to be an admission that his parents pulled away from him. Not the other way around. The details and specificities have never been spoken of in-depth publicly; but, so many people have criticized Vanessa and even Kobe when his parents were also rather imperfect individuals.

I think a lot of these industry men behave that way. The environment seems to foster it and protect them.

SMDH Vanessa could had been a bit more compassion regardless of who or what the situation could be! After all if it wasn't for Joe & his wife Vanessa wouldn't be enjoying the lifestyles that she is living & family over everything. Do better Vanessa

No statement would’ve been better then what she made

Horrible statement! That man is still her father in law, and granddad to her late husband kids! Not surprised since they weren’t acknowledged at their own sons’s funeral!

Remember Ashanti said she took a break from Music because of him. I can imagine the abuse from dealing with him. SMH...

Rest in Peace Joe “Jellybean” Bryant 🙏🏽🕊️🏀

I Agree 💯; Vanessa Bryant should try to make Amends with Kobes Family, Life is too short ; Condolences to Joe Bryant's Family 🙏❤🙏💐🙏

She took their son away and the highest power took her daughter away. She’s been WARNED already.

Irv gives off creepy vibes!!🤢

69 is young

That statement was super impersonal and very blahzay, like sorry you’re dead🙃 it was cold

69 is young! Condolences to the family ❤

Wow Vanessa, you would think after losing a child and spouse her heart would be softened.

It's so good to see you back in the studio Kempire. The camera looks great! The statement from Vanessa feels like it should be for an Uncle of Kobe instead of his father but it just confirms they didn't have a close relationship. I hope she and his mother can reconcile for the children's sake.

I do believe the statement was very cold and Vanessa should make things right between her and the rest of Kobe's family life is too short

So sad to hear about Kobe's dad, my heart goes out to his wife, daughter & grandkids. I'm not going paint Kobe's parents as villains in Vanessa's story just because she didn't get along with them. She's his widow so I'll keep it cute but she was not a sweet innocence, angel when he was alive.

Vanessa was always arrogant and greedy. Kobe bless her with a blissful and happy life. A real wife would have fix it before he departed this earth. The children have two sets of grandparents. I am still mad that Vanessa did not let his parents speak at the celebration. So sad. God please lift up his wife and sisters.❤

vanessa is cold.and greedy.

My profound condolences to Mrs. Bryant, Kobe's sisters, his children, and the remaining family members. I will light a candle and say a special prayer for Mr. Bryant when I go to mass. May God grant eternal rest to Mr. Joe Bryant. Let us see if Vanessa will encourage her children to attend their grandfather's funeral mass. What many of Kobe's fans do know is that he was in the process of divorcing Vanessa when he tragically died. The lesson here is always be on top of your will preparation, regardless of how busy you are. Any man who is divorcing a woman never plans to giving her all of his assets. Rest in power Mr. Joe Bryant.

Vanessa is a horrible person yall need to Wake up

Kobe taught Vanessa how to treat his parents. This was his doing thats the sad part!

The statement seemed appropriate to me. They didn’t have a relationship and she was respectful of their hurt. Having children with someone doesn’t mean you’re close to their family. People often want to rewrite history when someone dies. I respect her statement.

I think Vanessa acts like a real B!!

That statement was giving, ignorant, arrogant, and out of touch. She needs to do right by his family and make amends with his mother. You only got one life to live, make it right. Prayers to the Kobe Family.

Kobes family wanted him to marry a black woman To create a strong black family

S.I.P JOE BRYANT

At the end of the dsy he is still her children's grandfather. Do better Vanessa or stay quiet, this statement ain't it. IMO

Yeah, Vanessa's statement is... telling.😬 Seems something happened long ago. But I know from personal experience that relationships between in-laws can start rocky & just get worse. It is what it is.

If she didnt have sex with him , he would send her home!! Why wouldnt she just go home?? He gave her that choice.

If he was nice, everything they were together, what was the issue with the children not visiting the grandparents? Then we have folks saying Vanessa gets alone with the sister. Why wrong with the children visiting the grandparents?

Honestly, that Vanessa isn't close to his family is really Kobe's fault. It was his responsibility to ensure that his family was tight with his wife and (or at least) kids. He clearly didn't foster that relationship, so why would Vanessa try after Kobe's death? Just my two cents.

Very cold , and it’s really confirms the state of their relationship or lack thereof

He died and didn’t even speak to his grandchildren that’s so sad

RIP Joe jellybean Bryant were from my neck of the woods , we were in high school the same time & yes 69 is young. Without Joe & Pam there would not be a Kobe, Vanessa should be a shame of herself. As a parent they felt that he should not have gotten married so young, most parents feel that way .

Yes that statement is cold as hell that's why i wanted to hear what Vanessa own mother had to say about her ass in her in tell all book but we will never know since she paid off her own mother stop her from spilling her secret to the whole world people Vanessa ain't innocent if you all would have heard what her stepdad said how her mother groom her to get with Kobe and dump the boy that she was already dating innocent you just don't pay someone off not to do a tell all book about you if you are innocent

Your father in law..she is full of it....KARMA WILL CATCH UP WITH HER.

Vanessa and her family BENEFITTED the most from that man's heritage and hard work, she's darn near a billionaire thanks to him and his wife, and has been feeling herself ever since. Dr Umar talks bad about her, she does not care tho

Kobe's parents were against him marrying her. Kobe had a falling out over this far awhile. The statement is true. What do you want.

R. I.P Mr. Bryant 🙏🏽🙏🏽😢

I believe when they first got married, the parents didn’t like her, so I don’t know how good a relationship they had with Vanessa

Rest In Peace Mr. Bryant !

Im gonna need for yall to remember that Kobe had fell out with his parents before he passed. She made the statement for her children so we’ll leave it at that. Its not up to Vanessa to do anything but she did for her children.

The idea that Vanessa needs to be more concerned with Kobe's parents than he was when he was alive is ludicrous! He fell out with his parents ages ago because they didn't agree with his marriage to Vanessa. Kobe's parents never apologized for their behavior or reconciled with their son before his passing. IMO, what Vanessa was more than enough. Had she said nothing, the public would have dragged her. In the public's eye, she is wrong no matter what she does. It's sad that the public doesn't hold Kobe's parents to the same standard.

Thanks Rae, appreciate it.

RIP Joe Bryant. May he reunite with his son and granddaughter on the other side. If there was no relationship, Vanessa could have kept her statement.

Grim Reaper working overtime. RIP Joe Bryant and Jacoby Jones

This tension didn’t start after Kobe died. We heard about this years ago when they first got married. If they didn’t get along no need for her act otherwise 🤷🏽‍♀️

I agree. The statement is very cold.

Regardless that is his father and Vanessa appear to be a cold blooded B. NO HEART

Shame that man died and that girl didn't acknowledge them. He made her his wife, though. I'm done with that one. 🙄. No kobe dad. No kobe.

@kempire , Kobe had a very strained relationship with his parents so although he may have loved his father, they were not very close for many years including up until his death, as a result of his parents not wanting him to get married to Vanessa because they were both very young. There was also drama regarding his parents being upset that Kobe wasn’t financially supporting them in the way they expected. In fact, his Dad Joe actually sold Kobe’s first championship ring and many other very valuable and one of a kind memorabilia soon after his death. Now Vanessa, is a fellow Taurus and one thing about us Taurus is we are loyal to a fault so I can understand why her statement may have seemed cold to someone who is not familiar with the situation. She stood by her husband’s decision to have limited contact/relationship with her in-laws and as you know, just because folks may be “family,” doesn’t mean you are close or need to put up appearances for the public. I mean, sis cut off her own mother for trying to extort money from her daughters after her husband died - Vanessa don’t play!

Don't believe in "the' rumors. Believe that Legends create Legends. She was there to support him and his legacy. Let's do our part.

The things Gotti said he did to Ashanti leads me to believe every word the lady states in her lawsuit

RIP Jellybean💛 I know we should be focusing on Jellybean's life, but it is just so sad how their relationship was damaged because of Vanessa and she not only caused it, she encouraged it! I used to temporarily live near his paternal grandparents' home where they lived and died and the street and living conditions were deplorable to have Kobe as a grandson. The whole block (street) had mostly condemned homes. It used to hurt me to go past that neighborhood and know that the people that truly loved and invested into helping Kobe become who he was the most, wasn't even able to have a decent relationship with Kobe and his family or even get anything in return monetary from their love and support. My husband grew up a couple blocks away from Jellybean and saw him bring Kobe as a young child into the neighborhood to play basketball once they moved back to the Philly area in Lower Merion, PA after living with his dad in Italy where he played professional basketball, that's how Kobe became fluent in Italian. And I know there will be some that say well that's not Kobe's fault. Well, you're right, it isn't but he made sure he took care of Vanessa's mother and extended family very well when he was alive. Look how Vanessa totally cut them off once he died, there is definitely something to her character which is a facade to me‼️

65 is young. In laws are a special folk. They feel entitled but they don't make you priority.

Rip Joseph Washington and Kobe Bean Bryant, you will be missed

Not surprised about Irv because Ashanti was still so young, very controlling and a creep. I think he was also using a lot of drugs bragged about xtc with Ashanti.

Rest In Peace Joe don’t know what it’s like afterwards but hope you Kobe and your granddaughter get together, <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="514">8:34</a>

Damn irv can’t catch a break, first Ashanti has her second baby shower now this? Irv looks like the type!!! The way he went in on him and Ashanti physical relationship made me cringe

I’m so glad you mentioned Ashanti because he has been obsessed with her and bashing her in the press for years and he was very loud when she was with Nelly the first time. Plus I don’t know if you ever watched Growing Up Hip Hop New York but the way both he and his ex wife talked about her and the way the ex wife blamed her for their divorce and for leaving during the federal trial was very weird. Plus I think Ashanti has said herself that Irv would force her to do certain things for her music so this is not surprising to me at all. The way he talks in public I’m sure there’s a lot more with him that we don’t know.

I believe Vanessa said enough. She didnt reallly know that man.

Sorry, but Vanessa's statement was fair to me. I don't find anything cold about it. Personally, I wouldn't say anything about a person dying that I wasn't speaking with. There have been family members that have died and we weren't speaking. I didn't say anything and I didn't attend the funeral but I did have closure. I did forgive. Maybe she should have kept quiet but still the public would've dragged her. She can't win

He had to choose between his family or his wife and her family it’s so on so many levels, Vanessa is so full of it smh 🤦🏾‍♀️… He took care of Vanessa whole entire family… And left his’s out to dry because of her… It’s a lot of layers to this story…

It gives very cold. My condolences because if there had not been no Joe there could not have been Kobe.

She didn’t acknowledge them at all at his funeral, so I’m not sure why anyone is surprised by the “cold” statement. Clearly, she didn’t really know them very well even after being married to their son for almost 20 years.

I believe everything that's said about Irv

I feel like by now, if Vanessa really did anything that was that terrible to warrant alienation from her in-laws, we would’ve heard it. Personally, unless it was something serious like an insane amount of disrespect, or they were a criminal. There isn’t much of anything you could do to alienate me from my child, their spouse and their kids. Your children are people who make their own decisions. They don’t need to choose a spouse that appeases you. The only thing a child owes you is to go out there and live their life on their own terms.

People need to leave her alone. We have no idea how they treated her and Kobe. She’s being judged harshly with very little information

Chic should get $0 and 0 cents.

She shouldn’t have wrote “We Hoped”.. Smh. She should have left that part out or not responded at all knowing she didn’t rock with them.. It’s too late to say “We Hoped”, when you as a woman who has his grandchildren could have made it right after his son and granddaughters passing.. “We Hoped” is confirming to us when his parents were in need she didn’t secretly without the public knowing look out for them.. It’s like a guilty confession of knowing she was in the wrong..

You know what I’m sick of. She dated Gotti she saw the red flags. He told her put out or go home. She choose to put out instead of going home. Now she want to complain

He threatened to "send her home " Then go home

It’s a little cold.

Everyone blaming Vanessa , need to blame Kobe tbh , the way he treated his parents is the way Vanessa continued to treat his parents. Its that simple if he made sure his parents were priority, she would have no choice but to make his parents priority. Kobe had a tumultuous relationship with his parents too

Vanessa statement isn’t sincere at all. The backstory on Kobe’s relationship with his parents stems from Vanessa being underage and Vanessa’s mother was trying to blackmail Kobe and forced Kobe to marry Vanessa with them being so young. And that is why Kobe and his parents have a strain relationship they were just trying to protect him. Let’s be clear Kobe cheated on Vanessa with the alleged woman that he raped in Colorado and it was settled out of court (victim was paid off) and Kobe bought Vanessa 1M ring during the trail because Vanessa was going to clean him dry because he cheated. I don’t trust Vanessa whatsoever and Vanessa’s mother created the conflict with Kobe and his parents

If she would have said nothing, y’all would have had something to say. She said, what she said. Let’s remember we know nothing about these people and their lives.

Irving Gotti has always rubbed me the wrong way. He looks like a creep.