Beyoncé opened Kobe and Gianna Bryant’s memorial ceremony today by singing emotional renditions of “XO” and “Halo.” She started by performing “XO,” then paused to tell the crowd, “I’m here because I love Kobe, and this was one of his favorite songs. So I want to start that over but I want us to do it all together. I want you to sing it so loud, he can hear the love. Are you all ready? I love you.”
With a choir backing her, Beyoncé then sang the two tracks. She ended her performance by looking up and blowing a kiss, her eyes teary.
When news first broke that Kobe and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among the nine victims killed in a helicopter crash, Beyoncé shared three posts on her Instagram in their honor. “I will continue to diligently pray for your Queens,” she wrote. “You are deeply missed beloved Kobe.”
There were seven other victims in the crash that took Kobe and Gianna’s lives: Gianna’s basketball teammate Alyssa Altobelli and her parents, Keri and John Altobelli; assistant coach Christina Mauser; Gianna’s teammate Payton Chester and her mother, Sarah Chester; and the helicopter pilot, Ara Zobayan.
Kobe and Gianna are survived by his wife, Vanessa Bryant, and daughters 17-year-old Natalia, three-year-old Bianka, and eight-month-old Capri. The memorial to Kobe is ongoing. You can watch the ceremony live below:
Источник: www.elle.com
