Kobe Bryant’s Grieving Fans Hold Memorial Service For Him Outside Staples Center
Image via Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com
Fans of the late Kobe Bryant flooded the Staples Center to mourn the death of the former Los Angeles Laker.
Variety reported that the flags at the Staples Center were raised at half mast, and images of the star were displayed on big screens around the arena.
Hundreds of Bryant’s fans turned up at the arena, which they called “house that Kobe built,” because “they didn’t know where else to go.”
They chanted, “thank you Kobe,” outside the Staples Center but couldn’t get too close to the arena as the police had cordoned off the building for the Grammy Awards.
Among the visitors were WNBA star Chiney Ogwumike and actor Danny Trejo.
Other celebrities took to Twitter to pay tribute to the late star. “This can’t be real, my heart hurts,” Khloé Kardashian tweeted, accompanying it with a broken heart emoji.
Barack Obama, too, sent out a tweet, writing, “Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day.”
Read more heartfelt messages below.
"THANK YOU, KOBE."
— ABC News (@ABC) January 26, 2020
Hundreds of fans chanted outside the Staples Center to pay tribute to basketball legend Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash in Southern California. https://t.co/xdOulVCI6b pic.twitter.com/ujSr5wMYdL
Too bad. Staples Center is the house that Kobe built. The awards show will have to understand. https://t.co/aCW58ktoEH
— 𝕮𝖔𝖚𝖗𝖙 𝕶𝖎𝖒 💥 (@TheCourtKim) January 26, 2020
The scene outside Staples is surreal. People in Kobe jersey mixed with people in sequined ballgowns for the Grammys. Amid the tears, the crowd breaks into somber applause when this comes on the screen pic.twitter.com/CUMwFmYVF5
— Kavitha A. Davidson (@kavithadavidson) January 26, 2020
I can’t even believe this is real... right now outside Staples. 💔 pic.twitter.com/yuunIbG2Ms
— Chiney Ogwumike (@Chiney321) January 26, 2020
Flowers being set up at LA Live for Kobe Bryant
— Jack Harris (@Jack_A_Harris) January 26, 2020
The Grammys are at Staples Center tonight, so plaza in front is blocked off. Dozens already beginning to gather here pic.twitter.com/6gHUVwGphB
The scene at Staples Center pic.twitter.com/5RcuZ18Aof
— Kylie McLogan (@Kylie_McLogan) January 26, 2020
This can’t be real 💔💔💔💔 there’s no way!!! My heart hurts
— Khloé (@khloekardashian) January 26, 2020
Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act. To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 26, 2020
Thank you, Kobe.
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 29, 2020
Mamba Forever.
(via @NBAonTNT | @HowardBeck) pic.twitter.com/3zMg4rjyyV
[via HuffPost, opening image via Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com]
