Table of Contents
- Kobe Bryant affairs and personal life have been the subject of much public scrutiny despite the NBA great passing away more than five years ago
- The basketball sensation and Vanessa go all the way back to their teen days when they first met on the set of a music video shoot
- Kobe developed a habit of sending roses to Vanessa who was a student at Marina High School in Huntington Beach
Kobe Bryant affairs and personal life have been the subject of much public scrutiny despite the NBA great passing away more than five years ago.
Kobe’s love story spanned two decades and faced several tough tests, including the early opposition of his parents to their marriage, a sexual assault cause and a near-divorce. What’s even more beautiful about his marriage to Vanessa is how they overcame every obstacle in their union to build a strong, lasting relationship that is seen as a model to many.
The basketball sensation and Vanessa go all the way back to their teen days when they first met on the set of a music video shoot. Vanessa was only 17 years old when she went to her first date with Kobe, who had already made a name for himself as far as basketball is concerned and had gotten the attention of top NBA clubs.
Vanessa Bryant. Photo/ NBC News.
Bryant had completed an amazing high school career in Philadelphia which saw him jump to the professional ranks without even attending college. He was already a celebrity at 20 with the Los Angeles Lakers offering him a $70 million six-year contract in the early 2000s.
Kobe Bryant developed a habit of sending roses to Vanessa who was a student at Marina High School in Huntington Beach. Unsurprisingly, this caught the attention of the paparazzi and TV crew who paid a visit to her in school.
Vanessa’s friends initially struggled to believe that she was dating the young basketball star. However, it all become clear when the pair got engaged after she turned 18. Due to the attention Vanessa was getting in school after her engagement to Kobe, she was forced to complete her studies independently.
Kobe’s Marriage To Vanessa
Kobe Bryant married his childhood sweetheart Vanessa in April 2001. Unsurprisingly, not everyone was happy with their union. In fact, one of the highlights of their wedding was Kobe’s parents did not attend the ceremony.
Kobe’s parents, especially his father Joe who is a former basketball player, were opposed to their idea of their son marrying Vanessa because she was not African-American. Vanessa is Latino. They also didn’t support the union arguing that Kobe and Vanessa were too young to get married.
In 2003, the Orlando Sentinel published a story with info on the rift between Kobe and his father. The two had not spoken for the last two years and the senior Bryant had no interest in meeting his granddaughter who was one year old. When asked the reason whey he was not in good terms with his son, Joe said: “It’s his life, we’ve got nothing to do with it. We’ve done our job.”
Kobe stood by his wife and loved her despite the objections from his parents. The couple’s early years in marriage was filled with on-court success as Kobe set records and won titles with the Lakers while Vanessa played the role of NBA wife.
In 2016, Kobe hugged both his parents at an event. While it seemed they had eventually made things up, the parents never attended his final NBA game.
Kobe Bryant Affairs
In 2003, Kobe Bryant affairs made headlines after a nineteen year old woman named Katelyn Faber accused him of sexual assault.
Kobe Bryant and his family. Photo/ Elite Sports NY.
According to the New York Times, the career-threatening scandal started when he went to a clinic in Colo to have a knee operation and decided to check in at Cordillera Lodge and Spa where he first interacted with Faber. The woman led her to his room and Kobe asked her to return and give him a private tour of the property.
When she returned, Kobe invited her to his room where they started kissing. The woman later told the police that Kobe raped her while the Lakers legend argued that they both agreed to have sex. The case was later dropped as the woman decided not to testify at trial.
Rumours of further infidelity in the late 2000s and early 2010s forced Vanessa to apply for a divorce in 2011. However, the couple later reconciled and stopped the divorce proceedings. As of the time of Kobe’s death, the pair had four daughters.
