Beyonce looked to the heavens as she honored her late friend Kobe Bryant at his public memorial on Monday.
Taking to the stage at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, she opened the day’s proceedings.
The pop star wore a golden suit as she gave passionate performances of her hits XO and Halo, supported by dozens of back up musicians.
Celebration of life: Beyonce looks to the heavens as she honors her late friend Kobe Bryant at his public memorial in Los Angeles on Monday
Powerful: Taking to the stage at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, she opened proceedings
Tribute: The pop star wore a golden suit as she gave passionate performances of her hits XO and Halo, supported by dozens of back up musicians
Looking skyward as she sang, she blew kisses into the crowd, where Kobe’s wife Vanessa Bryant sat with her family.
‘I’m here because I love Kobe and this was one of his favorite songs,’ Beyonce shared with the huge crowd, asking them to sing along.
After Kobe’s death, Beyonce shared a tribute on social media, writing: ‘I will continue to diligently pray for your Queens. You are deeply missed beloved Kobe.’
The sold-out service took place at the downtown arena where Bryant played for the Los Angeles Lakers for 17 seasons of his two-decade NBA career. Bryant and his daughter were among nine people killed January 26 in a helicopter crash.
Looking skyward: Beyonce gave a powerful performance
The sold-out service took place at the downtown arena where Bryant played for the Los Angeles Lakers for 17 seasons of his two-decade NBA career
Moving: Vanessa Bryant honored her daughter Gianna and husband Kobe in a speech
The concourse was a sea of people dressed in the team colors of purple and yellow and others in black. On the scoreboard, the Bryant family´s life flashes by in pictures: Bryant with his wife and Gianna, the whole family in costumes, Gianna on the court, baby pictures of Gianna and her father.
The service began just hours after Vanessa Bryant sued the owner of the helicopter that crashed in the fog last month. The wrongful-death lawsuit claimed that the pilot, Ara Zobayan, was careless and negligent by flying in cloudy conditions.
At the arena, fans were given a program containing photos, a purple KB pin and a T-shirt with photos of the father and daughter. The concourse was a sea of purple, gold and black clothing.
The service will feature speakers reflecting on Kobe Bryant’s impact on his sport and the world, along with music and retrospectives on Bryant’s on-court achievements. Bryant became active in film, television and writing after he retired from basketball in 2016.
Bryant’s family, dozens of sports greats and many major figures in Bryant’s public life were expected to attend.
Powerful: Looking skyward as she sang, she blew kisses into the crowd, where Kobe’s wife Vanessa Bryant sat with her family
Mourned: Bryant and his daughter were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash
Money from ticket sales was to be given to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, which supports youth sports programs in underserved communities and teaches sports to girls and women.
Vendors sold flowers, Lakers scarves and commemorative newspapers and jerseys. Buses drove up and down Figueroa Street with their signs lit up with ‘RIP KOBE.’
Bryant played his entire 20-year NBA career with the Lakers, who moved from the Forum to Staples Center when it opened in 1999. The five-time NBA champion’s two retired jersey numbers – 8 and 24 – hang high above the arena where he became the third-leading scorer in league history until Lakers star LeBron James passed him on the night before Bryant’s death.
Fundraiser: Money from ticket sales was for the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation
Farewell: Beyonce was a personal friend of Kobe’s
Bryant’s death caused an outpouring of grief across Los Angeles, where he remained the city’s most popular athlete into retirement. Dozens of public memorials and murals have been installed around the sprawling metropolis, and thousands of fans gathered daily outside Staples Center to commiserate after the crash.
Symbolic meanings will run throughout the ceremony, which will be held on a 24-foot-by-24-foot stage. Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s wife and Gianna’s mother, chose Feb. 24 as the date in honor of the uniform numbers of Kobe and Gianna, who wore No. 2 on her youth basketball teams.
A private funeral was held for Kobe and Gianna Bryant in Orange County on February 7.
Much missed: Kanye West, Kim and Khloe Kardashian, and Kris Jenner sit in the crowd
Tearful: Jennifer Lopez watches her friend Vanessa speak