The loss of a parent never gets easy, no matter what your age is.
Maybe, just maybe, it’s much harder when you’re just a young child.
So when a famous singer, who also happened to be a family friend, noticed the little girl in the crowd at her concert, she knew just what to do to try and help ease that grief.
Vanessa Bryant had brought her daughters, Bianka, age 6, Capri, age 3, and Natalia, age 20, to see Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. It was there that Swift took time out for Bianka, in the middle of her sold-out concert. In the middle of a song.
Vanessa was married to Kobe, who played for the Los Angeles Lakers. The basketball star, along with his daughter Gigi, died in 2020 after their helicopter crashed into the hillsides of Calabasas, Calif., killing both of them, along with 7 others. Gigi was only 13.
Bryant and Swift were unique friends, having met years before in 2015, when Kobe surprised Swift onstage at the Staples Center. He presented the singer with a banner honoring her 16th sold-out concert at the center, the first to hold that honor.
Swift later thanked him on the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Kobe responded with:
My pleasure @taylorswift13 Keep breaking records and changing lives.”
The NBA legend shared a picture of the banner, writing, “Friends hang from time to time but banners hang forever.”
So when Vanessa and her daughters arrived at Swift’s concert, those memories followed the family.
Vanessa wore a jacket that had a copy of the photo of Kobe and Swift together in 2015. The jacket was emblazoned with the lyrics “Say you’ll remember me,” from Swift’s song “Wildest Dreams.”
An image of Taylor Swift and Kobe Bryant was on the jacket that Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, wore to the concert. Photo courtesy of Vanessa Bryant
It was that friendship that led the singer to the edge of the stage during her song “22.” Video from the concert shows Swift, crouching down and hugging the child tightly. After talking, she then placed her sparkly black bowler hat on the little girl’s head. The hat has been a constant costume piece during Swift’s performances.
@espn_nSuch a sweet moment (via Shine on Media-YT ) #kobebryant #taylorswift #erastour #wholesome #losangeles♬ original sound – ESPN
Later, Vanessa posted photos on Instagram from the concert, including pictures of the family with Swift, writing, “We love you @taylorswift.”
The grieving mom also posted a video showing her daughters GiGi and Natalia singing along to Swift’s 2008 hit “You Belong with Me.”
@24and2foreverkobeandgigi I miss seeing them together especially when they both were singing to Taylor Swift 🥹 #giannabryant #gigibryant#mambacita#geegster#nataliabryant#nanibanani#bryantgirls ♬ original sound – Kobe and Gigi 2&24
The family has always been grateful for the place Swift has held in their lives. During an interview recently, Natalia spoke about how much Swift meant to her.
“I just love how she’s always, she’s very positive but she also empowers young girls and she empowers women, and I just think that’s so important in life. And she’s always been one of my biggest role models,” she said.
From left, Vanessa Bryant, Taylor Swift, Capri Bryant, Bianka Bryant and Natalia Bryant. Photo courtesy of Vanessa Bryant
And after the concert, Natalia posted photos and videos writing, “I don’t know how it gets better than this!🌟.”
What an amazing experience for this family to have together after everything they have been through.
Watch the beautiful moment below.
