The tragic news of the helicopter crash that killed NBA legend, Kobe Bryant , his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others on Sunday has left the world heartbroken and in shock.
In the wake of this news, Jimmy Fallon shared an emotional monologue — breaking down in tears, remembering Kobe on his show.
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NBA legend, Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven others were aboard a helicopter that crashed in California on Sunday.
The other victims included Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his daughter Alyssa Altobelli and wife Keri Altobelli, assistant girls basketball coach from Harbor Day Christina Mauser, mother-daughter duo Sarah and Payton Chester, as well as the helicopter’s pilot Ara Zobayan.
Countless celebrities and fellow NBA legends have been paying tribute and sharing their condolences.
Shaquille O’Neal was one of Bryant’s first friends to break their silence.
“There are no words to express the pain I’m going through now with this tragic and sad moment of loosing my niece Gigi & my friend, my brother, my partner in winning championships, my dude and my homie,” Shaquille wrote.
“I love you and you will be missed. My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. IM SICK RIGHT NOW!”
He went on to discuss the close relationship they had built over the years.
“Kobe was so much more than an athlete, he was a family man. That was what we had most in common. We love our families. Whenever we got together I would hug his children like they were my own and he would embrace my kids like they were his. His baby girl Gianna was born on the same day as my youngest daughter Me’Arah. I miss you already brother. This is truly unbelievable. Everyone please keep the Bryant’s in your prayers. R.I.P.”
LeBron James broke his silence yesterday about the loss of his close friend.
“I’m Not Ready but here I go. Man I sitting here trying to write something for this post but every time I try I begin crying again just thinking about you, niece Gigi and the friendship/bond/brotherhood we had!” LeBron began.
“I literally just heard your voice Sunday morning before I left Philly to head back to LA. Didn’t think for one bit in a million years that would be the last conversation we’d have. WTF!! I’m heartbroken and devastated my brother!!”
“Man, I love you big bro. My heart goes to Vanessa and the kids. I promise you I’ll continue your legacy man! You mean so much to us all here especially #LakerNation. Please give me the strength from the heavens above and watch over me! I got US here! There’s so much more I want to say but just can’t right now because I can’t get through it! Until we meet again my brother!! #Mamba4Life #Gigi4Life,” he concluded .
Ellen Degeneres gave a touching speech at the beginning of her show on Monday.
She broke down in an emotional monologue, speaking about Kobe on her show yesterday.
“Today is Monday. Yesterday was Sunday. It happened to be my birthday and the Grammy Awards,” she said. “Yesterday was supposed to be a celebratory day, and then we got tragic news about Kobe Bryant.”
“Everything changed in a second,” she said, choking up.
“That’s what I want to talk about. Life is short and it’s fragile. And we don’t know how many birthdays we have. So, just — we don’t always have a birthday to celebrate. Just celebrate life.”
Sunday night’s Grammy Awards paid their respects to Kobe and his daughter by opening the show with Alicia Keys and Boyz II Men singing “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” in his honor.
After the show, Alicia shared to Instagram, “Tonight was tough but we made it through,” she wrote. “Life is too short and unexpected. Kobe and Gianna lifted us up tonight.”
Other celebrities have been honoring Kobe and his daughter on social media, like Kevin Hart.
“This honestly doesn’t make sense….I just saw you man,” Kevin wrote on Instagram.
“This hurts my heart. God please place your hands on his family and help guide them thru this unbearable time. We love you forever man…Legends never die!!!! #MambaMentality #RIP…. RIP to the other passengers as well as sending prayers to their families.”
Vin Diesel.
“Heavy heart today… to the family, please know how much he impacted all of our lives and will live on in our hearts,” Vin wrote. “Sending the deepest of condolences to all involved. Our prayers… for the family of this true hero.”
Kim Kardashian.
“My heart is so heavy. No one should ever experience what the families involved are going through,” Kim wrote.
“This has affected us all so much but I cannot begin to imagine what Vanessa is feeling losing her husband and her baby girl. I cry just thinking about it. I am praying for the Bryant family, the Altobelli family and the families of all who perished in this unthinkable tragedy. Rest In Peace Legend.”
And Jada Pinkett Smith.
“Life is so fragile. This is the kind of loss that makes you deeply reflective. My prayers to Vanessa, her children and all of those who love Kobe and Gigi,” she wrote alongside this photo of Kobe and Gianna.
“This is a hard one. My heart is broken and bleeding everywhere today. This tragedy happened only a few miles from where I am. It’s heavy and it’s painful.”
Among the celebrities to honor Kobe and his daughter was Jimmy Fallon.
Jimmy broke down in tears giving an emotional speech on his show, remembering Kobe.
“Kobe was such a life force — so strong and creative and inspired that in my head, I thought that he was gonna live forever,” he began.
“I met Kobe when he was 17 and I was 21,” he continued. “He was a rookie on the Lakers, and I was just starting out in the comedy scene in LA.”
“We were at a party and we didn’t know anyone at the party, so we just started talking.”
“We got along,” he added.
He explains that even though Kobe wasn’t drinking that night, he offered to make a beer run for the party and invited Jimmy to tag along for the ride.
“So, we saved the party,” Jimmy explained. “And of course, Kobe went on to become a legend.”
“When we’d run into each other over the years, we’d laugh about that night that we first met,” he said, beginning to tear up.
“We’d laugh at all the good things that had happened since, and we’d laugh about how much fun it is to raise kids.”
“All the stupid mistakes we’d made trying to figure out how to be good dads.”
“Kobe had four daughters and I have two daughters, and today he and one of his girls are gone.”
“I think I knew Kobe enough to know that he rose to any challenge by digging deeper and getting back to work.”
“So, let’s honor Kobe and Gianna and the other lives that were lost yesterday by following his example,” he said.
“Love your family, love your teammates, and outwork everyone else in the gym.”
Watch the full video here.
