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Beyoncé raises the roof at emotional Kobe Bryant memorial

Beyoncé performs at Kobe and Gianna Bryant's memorial at the Staples Centre in Downtown Los Angeles.
Beyoncé opened the memorial for late NBA star Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna with a heartfelt performance. Photo: FOX Sports.

Beyoncé has raised the roof with a touching rendition of two of her hit songs at the emotionally-charged memorial service for late basketball legend Kobe Bryant, 41, and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna.

The iconic artist commenced proceedings at Monday’s “Celebration of Life” for Kobe and Gianna - or ‘Gigi’ - held at Los Angeles’s Staples Centre by performing XO and Halo with a rousing group of backup musicians.

She appeared to send a heartfelt message to Kobe via the lyrics in Halo which include, “Standing in the light of your halo/ I got my angel now”.

Beyoncé performs at Kobe and Gianna Bryant's memorial at the Staples Centre in Downtown Los Angeles.
The star sang "XO" and "Halo". Photo: FOX Sports.

‘I love Kobe’

Dressed in a gold suit, the multi-Grammy award winner took a moment to look to the heavens and honour her friend who was among 10 people killed last month in a helicopter crash in Calabasas.

“I’m here because I love Kobe and this was one of his favourite songs,” the 38-year-old told the crowd of thousands of mourners which included the NBA superstar’s widow, Vanessa Bryant.

At one point, Beyoncé blew kisses to Vanessa, 37, who was seated front-and-centre and was later seen comforting the mum-of-four as she wept.

Christina Aguilera performs during The Celebration of Life for Kobe & Gianna Bryant at Staples Center on February 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.
Christina Aguilera also took the stage. Photo: Getty Images.
Alicia Keys performs during The Celebration of Life for Kobe & Gianna Bryant at Staples Center on February 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.
Alicia Keys takes a bow after her rendition of Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata”. Photo: Getty Images.

Fellow singers Alicia Keys - who performed Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” on a grand piano - and Christina Aguilera also took to the stage.

Kobe - who played for the Los Angeles Lakers for 17 seasons of his two-decade career - was remembered by fellow sporting greats including Michael Jordan who openly cried during his speech.

The Bryant’s celebrity friends Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez were spotted in the audience.

Beyoncé departs after The Celebration of Life for Kobe & Gianna Bryant at Staples Center on February 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.
Beyoncé makes her way through the crowd of mourners. Photo: Getty Images.
Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez depart after The Celebration of Life for Kobe & Gianna Bryant at Staples Center on February 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.
Engaged couple Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez attended the 'Celebration of Life'. Photo: Getty Images.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the stadium when a clearly devastated Vanessa eulogised her husband of 21 years, calling him her ‘everything’.

“He was the most amazing husband,” she said.

“Kobe loved me more than I could ever express or put into words. I was fire. He was ice. Vice versa at times. ... He was my everything.”

The couple’s daughter Gigi was remembered as a promising young basketball player who ‘represented the future’ of the women’s league.

A private funeral was held for Kobe and Gianna in Orange County on February 7.

Michael Jordan speaks during The Celebration of Life for Kobe & Gianna Bryant at Staples Center on February 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.
An emotional Michael Jordan remembered NBA great Kobe. Photo: Getty Images.
Kobe Bryant's wife Vanessa Bryant speaks during the "Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant" service at Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles on February 24, 2020. - Kobe Bryant, 41, and 13-year-old Gianna were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in the rugged hills west of Los Angeles on January 26.
Widow Vanessa Bryant eulogised her late husband and daughter. Photo: Getty Images.

Vanessa Bryant sues over Kobe’s death

The service began just hours after Vanessa filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Island Express, the owner of the helicopter that crashed in the fog last month.

She is also claiming that pilot Ara Zobayan - who also lost his life in the crash - was careless and negligent by flying in cloudy conditions.

According to documents obtained by TMZ, Vanessa doesn’t list the amount of money she is seeking in damages, but she is asking for punitive damages, as well as damages for “pre-impact terror”, which is the emotional trauma suffered by Kobe and Gigi before the crash.

Vanessa is also seeking damages for loss of love, affection, care, society, service, comfort, support, right to support, companionship, solace or moral support, and expectations of future support and counselling, as well as money for loss of financial support and for burial and funeral expenses.

Kobe Bryant poses with his family at halftime after both his #8 and #24 Los Angeles Lakers jerseys are retired at Staples Center on December 18, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Kobe with three of his daughters - (from left) Gianna, baby Bianka and Natalia - with wife Vanessa in 2017 The couple's fourth child, Capri, was born in 2019. Photo: Getty Images.

With AAP and BANG! Showbiz.

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