Last night’s Grammy Awards proved to be the usual display of theatrical fashion (including Ariana Grande’s Giambattista Valli haute couture ball gown and Lizzo’s custom Versace dress) and million dollar jewellery. But beneath the surface was an underlying sadness due to the unexpected death of NBA star, Kobe Bryant, and his 13-year-old daughter in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Los Angeles, made all the more poignant by the fact the ceremony was held in the Staples Centre — the home of the Los Angeles Lakers, where Bryant spent his NBA career.
Alongside an emotional tribute by host Alicia Keys, who sang a cappella version of [i]It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” alongside Boyz II Men, many other guests also paid their respects in a number of different ways.
Actress Priyanka Chopra paid tribute with the number 24, Kobe’s jersey number, written on one of her nails. Minutes before the ceremony began, she had posted a heartfelt picture of Kobe and his young daughter to her Instagram page, with the caption, “Kobe Bryant was my first real introduction to the NBA. I was 13 living in Queens NYC, the same age as his sweet little girl, Gianna. He ignited my love for the sport, competition and striving for excellence. He inspired an entire generation. His legacy is so much bigger than basketball.”
She finished with the acknowledgement that “being at tonight’s Grammys ceremony in his home at the Staples Centre is going to be surreal.”
The actress was accompanied by her husband Nick Jonas, who wore a purple ribbon on his lapel in memory of the basketball star.
Our thoughts to go out to Kobe’s family at this tragic time.
