Vanessa Bryant is speaking out following the death of her father-in-law, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant.
On Tuesday morning, Bryant posted a statement to her Instagram stories.
“Sending our condolences upon hearing the news of my father-in-law’s passing,” she wrote. “We hoped things would’ve been different. Although the times we spent together were few, he was always sweet and nice to be around.”
For years it was known that Kobe and his parents did not have the best relationship.
They didn’t attend his wedding, but it was reported that efforts were made throughout the years to try and reconcile. However, in 2013 Kobe and his parents battled over the sale of items from his high school basketball career and his early days with the Lakers. They claimed they needed to sell the items in order to buy a home. However, Kobe claimed he never permitted them to do so.
In a 2016 interview with ESPN, the Black Mamba revealed that he hadn’t spoken to his parents in three years.
“Our relationship is s–t,” he said. “I say [to them], ‘I’m going to buy you a very nice home, and the response is ‘That’s not good enough’?” he continued. “Then you’re selling my s–t?”
The case was settled and it allowed his parents to auction off six items, which amounted to $500,000.
“We regret our actions and statements related to the Kobe Bryant auction memorabilia,” the statement from his parents read, obtained by ESPN at the time. “We apologize for any misunderstanding and unintended pain we may have caused our son and appreciate the financial support that he has provided to us over the years.”
The father of the Los Angeles Lakers legend passed away on Tuesday, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
La Salle University head basketball coach Fran Dunphy told the outlet that Bryant had battled health issues and suffered a massive stroke on Tuesday.
“It’s been in Ohio as early as the mid-1850s at least, brought in as an ornamental plant because of its unique foliage and white flowers,” Gardner said. “It was actually planted in people’s landscaping, and it has been spreading.”
It’s unknown if the father and son had made amends before Kobe died in 2020.