“I Shouldn’t Go Through This”: Vanessa Bryant Recounts the Heartbreaking Moment She Learned About Kobe Bryant and Gianna’s Deaths — and the Silence That Changed Her Life The room was silent as Vanessa Bryant received the call that tore her life apart. It wasn’t a scream, it wasn’t a panic — it was a sense of collapse from within, as she whispered the words that those present still can’t forget: “I shouldn’t go through this… I don’t deserve to go through this.” One employee described the moment as “a complete standstill,” as Vanessa struggled to stand despite her knees shaking with pain. She asked the same question over and over again, as if hoping that if she said it one more time, the world would wake up and give her a different answer. But what made everyone’s heart clench was the moment after — when Vanessa put her hands on the table, closed her eyes and said another eight heartbreaking words, so softly that only those standing nearby could hear them… a sentence that still makes them choke up every time they mention it.

“I shouldn’t go through this”: Vanessa Bryant details the heartbreaking moment she found out about Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant’s death

Vanessa Bryant opened up about how she learnt of their deaths.(Image via Getty Images)

Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna “Gigi” Bryant’s death in 2020 has left a void in the hearts of the NBA legend’s fans, even though Vanessa Bryant has tried her best to stay strong for the couple’s other children.While it is soon going to be six years since the horrific accident which took away Kobe Bryant and his teenage daughter, Gianna “Gigi” Bryant, from the world, Vanessa Bryant had opened up about the moment she found out about the tragedy.

Vanessa Bryant opened up about finding out what happened to Kobe Bryant and Gianna “Gigi” Bryant

Back in 2021, Vanessa Bryant had sued the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for emotional distress. The popular philanthropist claimed that many pictures of the crash site and Kobe and Gianna Bryant were taken by first responders.

As per the court documents obtained by E! News, Vanessa Bryant had opened up about how she found out about the tragedy in the court filing.As per E! News, Vanessa Bryant said that as soon as TMZ Sports broke the news, an assistant had informed her that there had been an accident.Vanessa Bryant said, “As soon as I was on the phone with my mom, I was holding onto my phone, because obviously I was trying to call my husband back…and all these notifications started popping up on my phone, saying ‘RIP Kobe.

RIP Kobe. RIP Kobe.’”At that point, Vanessa Bryant picked up their oldest daughter, Natalia Bryant, and the two first tried to go on a helicopter to the crash site but she was refused because of the bad weather that day.At the end, the Los Angeles Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka drove her and Natalia to the Malibu police station where they were informed of the horrific tragedy.While Vanessa Bryant had requested that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department secure the area so that no pictures were leaked, the authorities assured her that measures were taken to protect their privacy.

Vanessa Bryant won the lawsuit she had filed against the Los Angeles County

As per the New York Post, an attorney representing Los Angeles County told Vanessa Bryant, “It’s not harassment. It’s just a lawsuit. And I’m so sorry to put you through this, but like I said at the beginning, I’ve got to do my job.”To this, Vanessa Bryant replied, “I shouldn’t have to be going through this.”In February 2023, Vanessa Bryant was paid $28.85 million after she reached a settlement with the Los Angeles County.