Vanessa Bryant Breaks Silence on Stepfather's Death

LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 5: Kobe Bryant and Joe Bryant (L) have fun at the Kobe Basketball Academy at Loyola Marymount University on July 5, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)

Vanessa Bryant is speaking out following the death of her stepfather, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant.

On Tuesday morning, Bryant posted a statement to his Instagram Stories.

Basketball player Kobe Bryant and wife Vanessa at the 2004 World Music Awards post-party on September 15, 2005 at Body English at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

“We extend our deepest condolences to you upon hearing of the passing of my father-in-law,” she wrote. “We hoped things would have turned out differently. Even though we spent little time together, he was always kind and enjoyable to be around.”

For years, it was known that Kobe and his parents didn’t have the best relationship.

They did not attend his wedding, but it appears that efforts have been made over the years to try to reconcile. However, in 2013, Kobe and his parents had an argument over the sale of items from his high school basketball career and early days with the Lakers. They claimed that they needed to sell the items to buy a house. However, Kobe claimed that he never allowed them to do so.

In a 2016 interview with ESPN, Black Mamba revealed that he hadn’t spoken to his parents in three years.

“Our relationship is shit,” he said. “I tell them, ‘I’ll buy you a really nice house,’ and the response is, ‘That’s not good enough?’” he continued. “So you’re selling my shit?”

Joe Bryant hugs his son Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers after the Lakers’ 111-103 win over the Utah Jazz in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2010 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 4, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

The case was settled, allowing his parents to auction off six items worth $500,000.

“We regret our actions and statements related to the Kobe Bryant memorabilia auction,” his parents’ statement, obtained by ESPN at the time, read. “We apologize for any misunderstanding and unintentional pain we may have caused our son and appreciate the financial support he has given us over the years.”

The father of the Los Angeles Lakers legend died Tuesday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

La Salle University head basketball coach Fran Dunphy told the outlet that Bryant had been battling health issues and suffered a massive stroke on Tuesday.

It is unclear whether father and son had reconciled before Kobe’s death in 2020.