Jennifer Lopez is brought to tears at Kobe and Gigi Bryant’s celebration of life memorial

Fans, friends and family got together in the thousands at the House that Kobe Built to honor Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna at their celebration of life memorial on Monday.

Jennifer Lopez was among the 20,000 people who received tickets to attend tearful celebration at the Staples Center and was seen in the audience alongside her fiance Alex Rodriguez.

The 50-year-old wept in the crowd as a touching in memoriam video played on the jumbotron and, again, when Kobe’s beloved wife Vanessa delivered an emotional eulogy.

Heartbroken: Jennifer Lopez was brought to tears while attending the emotional celebration of the lives of Kobe and Gianna Bryant at the Staples Center on Monday

Before the event, Lopez took to social media to share a photo of her manicure that honored the Bryants, with the numbers #2 and #24 painted on in gold.   

The Celebration of Life honoring the basketball legend and his daughter drew fans from across the country to the Southern California city almost a month after they were killed along with seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26. 

When Kobe died, Jennifer shared a touching tribute to the basketball great with whom she considered a longtime friend.

‘As I scrolled through Kobe’s feed, and Alex and I talk memories and moments we remember about him … this is the truth that rings out the loudest … family is what matters most,’ she wrote at the time.

Emotional moment: The 50-year-old wept in the crowd as a touching in memoriam video played on the jumbotron and, again, when Kobe's beloved wife Vanessa delivered an emotional eulogy

Emotional moment: The 50-year-old wept in the crowd as a touching in memoriam video played on the jumbotron and, again, when Kobe’s beloved wife Vanessa delivered an emotional eulogy

The loss of a loved one: When Kobe died, Jennifer shared a touching tribute to the basketball great with whom she considered a longtime friend

The loss of a loved one: When Kobe died, Jennifer shared a touching tribute to the basketball great with whom she considered a longtime friend

RIP: Before the event, Lopez took to social media to share a photo of her manicure that honored the Bryants, with the numbers #2 and #24 painted on in gold

RIP: Before the event, Lopez took to social media to share a photo of her manicure that honored the Bryants, with the numbers #2 and #24 painted on in gold

‘We are all feeling sadness from this loss, but all I can think of is that it is a grain of sand compared to what Vanessa must going through right now. I am sending all of my love and praying for you, your children and the other families involved in today’s tragic turn of events.’

At the celebration of life memorial, Vanessa Bryant tearfully stood up in front of the massive crowd of mourners to speak. 

She began with a heart wrenching eulogy about her daughter Gianna, telling the crowd that Gigi loved basketball would have undoubtedly gone on to become one of the best players in the WNBA.  

A great loss: The crowd, including Jennifer, broke down into tears when Vanessa Bryant stepped up and addressed the crowd

A great loss: The crowd, including Jennifer, broke down into tears when Vanessa Bryant stepped up and addressed the crowd

'God knew they couldn't be on this earth without each other,' Bryant said from the podium. 'He had to bring them home to heaven together.'

‘God knew they couldn’t be on this earth without each other,’ Bryant said from the podium. ‘He had to bring them home to heaven together.’

Tragic: The Celebration of Life honoring the basketball legend and his daughter drew fans from across the country to the Southern California city almost a month after they were killed along with seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26

Tragic: The Celebration of Life honoring the basketball legend and his daughter drew fans from across the country to the Southern California city almost a month after they were killed along with seven others in a helicopter crash on January 26

Looking back: When Kobe passed away, Jennifer shared a sweet photo of herself and Alex Rodriguez along with the NBA star and Vanessa

Looking back: When Kobe passed away, Jennifer shared a sweet photo of herself and Alex Rodriguez along with the NBA star and Vanessa

‘God knew they couldn’t be on this earth without each other,’ Bryant said from the podium. ‘He had to bring them home to heaven together.’ 

As the cameras panned to the crowd, Lopez got choked up once more while Vanessa spoke. 

‘I’ll never get to see my baby girl walk down the aisle, have a father-daughter dance with her daddy, dance on the dance floor with me or have babies of her own,’ Bryant said through silent tears.  

'I want my daughters to know and remember the amazing person, husband and father he was,' she said. 'The kind of man who wanted to teach the future generations to be better.'

‘I want my daughters to know and remember the amazing person, husband and father he was,’ she said. ‘The kind of man who wanted to teach the future generations to be better.’

Mourning: In the crowd Kanye West, Kim and Khloe Kardashian and Kris Jenner somberly looked on

Mourning: In the crowd Kanye West, Kim and Khloe Kardashian and Kris Jenner somberly looked on

Performing from the heart: Beyonce opened the memorial with what she said was Kobe's favorite song of hers, XO and then followed that with a powerful rendition of Halo which got a standing ovation from a crying Vanessa

Performing from the heart: Beyonce opened the memorial with what she said was Kobe’s favorite song of hers, XO and then followed that with a powerful rendition of Halo which got a standing ovation from a crying Vanessa

She then went into a touching tribute to the love of her life, Kobe, whom she was married to for nearly 20 years and called her soulmate. 

‘I want my daughters to know and remember the amazing person, husband and father he was,’ she said. ‘The kind of man who wanted to teach the future generations to be better.’

Beyonce opened the memorial with what she said was Kobe’s favorite song of hers, XO and then followed that with a powerful rendition of Halo which got a standing ovation from a crying Vanessa. 

Not afraid to cry: Close friends and colleagues, including Michael Jordan who wept during his speech, took to the podium to tell their remembrances of the basketball great and his daughter

Not afraid to cry: Close friends and colleagues, including Michael Jordan who wept during his speech, took to the podium to tell their remembrances of the basketball great and his daughter

On stage: The event was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, who fought back tears as he remembered his friend. In addition to Beyonce, there were performances by Alicia Keys and Christina Aguilera, among others

On stage: The event was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, who fought back tears as he remembered his friend. In addition to Beyonce, there were performances by Alicia Keys and Christina Aguilera, among others

Close friends and colleagues, including Michael Jordan who wept during his speech, took to the podium to tell their remembrances of the basketball great and his daughter. 

The event was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, who fought back tears as he remembered his friend. In addition to Beyonce, there were performances by Alicia Keys and Christina Aguilera, among others.

Staples Center sold out for the memorial, and the money made from ticket sales will be given to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, which supports youth sports programs in under-served communities and teaches sports to girls and women.

Staples Center sold out for the memorial, and the money made from ticket sales will be given to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, which supports youth sports programs in under-served communities and teaches sports to girls and women (A memorial for Kobe outside of the Staples Center on January 31)

Staples Center sold out for the memorial, and the money made from ticket sales will be given to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, which supports youth sports programs in under-served communities and teaches sports to girls and women (A memorial for Kobe outside of the Staples Center on January 31)

 

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