David and Victoria Beckham sweetly sent Valentine’s Day flowers to Kobe and Vanessa Bryant’s daughters on Sunday.
Taking to her Instagram Story, Vanessa, 38, who tragically lost husband Kobe and daughter Gianna in a helicopter crash in 2020, posted a picture of the touching gifts.
David, 45, and Victoria, 46, had sent three stunning pink bouquets of roses for Vanessa’s daughters Natalia, 18, Bianka, four, and Capri, 20 months.
Sweet: David and Victoria Beckham (pictured) sweetly sent Valentine’s Day flowers to Kobe and Vanessa Bryant’s daughters on Sunday
The couple also penned a sweet note, which read: ‘I hope I inspire my children just as much as your dad did. Thinking of you all today. Happy Valentine’s Day, with love, David Beckham & family xxxx.’
David and Kobe became close after the footballer completed his move to LA Galaxy in 2007 before becoming a regular fixture at the Staples Center in Los Angeles where he would watch the late athlete in action.
Clearly touched by the gesture, Vanessa wrote over the image: ‘Thank you for sending flowers to @nataliabryant, Bianka and Capri’ followed by a heart emoji.
She added: ‘Thank you [heart emoji] So thoughtful of you and your family.’
Touching gift: Taking to her Instagram Story, Vanessa, 38, who tragically lost husband Kobe and daughter Gianna in a helicopter crash in 2020, posted a picture of the touching gifts for her other three daughters Natalia, 18, Bianka, four, and Capri, 20 months (pictured in January)
Support: David, 45, and Victoria, 46, had sent three stunning pink bouquets of roses for Vanessa’s daughters Natalia, 18, Bianka, four, and Capri, 20 months
Kobe and daughter Gianna, a keen basketball player herself, had been on their way to the Mamba Academy for basketball practice on 26 January 2020 when their helicopter crashed. The seven other people on board were also tragically killed.
At the time, David paid a heartfelt tribute to his friend and fellow athlete, emotionally admitting he had spent hours trying to write a eulogy to honour the star.
He wrote on Instagram: ‘It’s taken me hours to work out what to write and still my words won’t ever be enough to describe how I am feeling after the tragic loss of Kobe.
‘This was one special athlete, husband, father and friend. Having to write these words is hard enough but also knowing we have lost an amazing human being and his beautiful and talented daughter Gianna is heartbreaking.
Lovely: The couple also penned a sweet note, which read: ‘I hope I inspire my children just as much as your dad did. Thinking of you all today. Happy Valentine’s Day, with love, David Beckham & family xxxx.’
Close: David and Kobe (L-R) became close after the footballer completed his move to LA Galaxy in 2007 before becoming a regular fixture at the Staples Center in Los Angeles where he would watch the late athlete in action (pictured in 2008)
‘The commitment Kobe showed to his sport was inspiring, to go through the pain and to finish a game off like only he could inspired me to try to be better.
‘Sometimes I would only go to games just to watch that clock go down to the last 2:00 minutes knowing that we were about to witness something special.
‘Kobe always talked about Vanessa and his beautiful girls and how proud he was of them.
‘Kobe’s passion was his family and basketball. He was determined to inspire the next generation of boys and girls to embrace the sport that he loved. His legacy will live on.
Tragic: Kobe and daughter Gianna, a keen basketball player herself, had been on their way to the Mamba Academy for basketball practice on 26 January 2020 when their helicopter crashed (Kobe and Gianna pictured in November 2019)
Looking back: On Sunday, Vanessa remembered her late husband Kobe on social media as she marked her second Valentine’s Day since his tragic passing aged 41
‘My family’s love and prayers go out to Vanessa and the girls, to Kobe’s basketball family, and of course to the families of those who were tragically lost with him yesterday…’
David’s wife, Victoria, also paid tribute on Instagram, writing: ‘This tragic loss struck us hard as a family. Kobe Bryant was an incredible figure on and off the court, a friend to David and determined to inspire the next generation.
‘The loss of a daughter and husband is unthinkable for any parent and wife. David, myself and our family send all our love to Vanessa, the other girls and the families of those that were tragically lost with Kobe yesterday x VB.’
On Sunday, Vanessa remembered her late husband Kobe on social media as she marked her second Valentine’s Day since his tragic passing aged 41.
Heartbreaking: Vanessa also shared a sweet throwback photo of him giving her a bouquet of roses from 2000
The photo showed the former Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard holding his wife during the early days of their relationship.
The 38-year-old widow of the basketball legend also wrote a short message in the caption for the post as she marked Valentine’s Day.
She penned: ‘Happy Valentine’s Day Boo-Boo. I love you for now, forever and for always.’
Vanessa also shared a sweet throwback photo of him giving her a bouquet of roses from 2000.
Emotional: On 26 January 2020, Vanessa emotionally said that losing her daughter Gianna and husband Kobe in a tragic helicopter crash ‘still doesn’t feel real’ one year on (pictured in 2018)
Kobe met Vanessa in 1999 when she 17 and was working as a background model on a music video. The couple got engaged six months later and married in 2001.
They welcomed daughters Natalia in 2003, Gianna in 2006, Bianka in 2016 and Capri in 2019.
On 26 January 2020, Vanessa emotionally said that losing her daughter Gianna and husband Kobe in a tragic helicopter crash ‘still doesn’t feel real’ one year on.
Heartbroken Vanessa took to Instagram to reveal she had received a beautifully written letter from one of 13-year-old Gianna’s best friends, Aubrey, and wrote in the caption: ‘My Gigi is INCREDIBLE and I truly appreciate your thoughtful letter.
Moving: Heartbroken Vanessa took to Instagram to reveal she had received a beautifully written letter from one of 13-year-old Gianna’s best friends, Aubrey, and wrote in the caption: ‘My Gigi is INCREDIBLE and I truly appreciate your thoughtful letter’
‘She loves you so much. I miss my baby girl and Kob-Kob so much, too. [heart emoji] I will never understand why/how this tragedy could’ve happened to such beautiful, kind and amazing human beings.
‘It still doesn’t seem real. Kob, we did it right. Gigi, you still make mommy proud. I love you!’
Sharing the letter on the anniversary of her daughter and husband’s death, Vanessa wrote: ‘Today I received this sweet letter from one of Gianna’s best friends, Aubrey.
‘I love you Aubz (as my Gigi would call you). Thank you so much for beautifully sharing some of your memories of my Gigi with me and allowing me to share them here on my ig.’
Love: Vanessa posted Aubrey’s letter with permission after she wrote that Gi had changed her life for the better
In her letter, Aubrey wrote about Vanessa as a mother. She penned: ‘You did it right Mrs. Bryant, and we are all eternally grateful to you.’
She added: ‘My mind constantly thinks of your beautiful daughter. Her smile and attitude push me to be better. You have probably heard this, but if I ever become a mom, I hope my daughter turns out exactly as yours did.’
Kobe and daughter Gianna, a keen basketball player herself, had been on their way to the Mamba Academy for basketball practice when their helicopter crashed at around 10am. The seven other people on board were also tragically killed.
The pilot – named locally as Ara Zobayan – was trying to turn the aircraft when it smashed into hills of Las Virgenes Canyon, which is home to celebrities including the Kardashians.
Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Kerry, and their daughter Alyssa were also among dead.
Family: Kobe met Vanessa in 1999 when she 17 and was working as a background model on a music video. The couple got engaged six months later and married in 2001 (pictured together with Gianna and Natalia in 2016)