LOS ANGELES — Thousands of mourners attended a sold-out memorial ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Monday, to say farewell to Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant.
Bryant's family, sports legends, and other significant figures were in attendance along with 20,000 fans who purchased tickets to the public memorial at the arena where Kobe Bryant played for the Los Angeles Lakers. The Staples Center expected thousands more to gather outside the arena.
Beyonce Knowles performed her hit song "XO" and "Halo" to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant. Following Knowles, Jimmy Kimmel continued the program with a tearful tribute to his friend and the Bryant family.
Kimmel then introduced Vanessa Bryant. She started with a tribute to her daughter Gianna Bryant.
Vanessa Bryant continued to talk about her husband, her "boo-boo," and said her family would remember Kobe and Gianna Bryant every day.
"God knew they couldn't be on this earth without each other," Vanessa Bryant said. "We love you both and miss you forever and always."
Friends and family of the Bryant family continued to pay tribute to Kobe and Gianna Bryant.
Rob Pelinka talks about the last text conversation he had with Kobe Bryant. Pelinka shared how he felt that Kobe Bryant's last act was heroic.
Kobe Bryant saw Michael Jordan as an idol, Kimmel mentioned when introducing Jordan as a speaker at the memorial.
Jordan said he didn't plan on crying as tears streamed down his face.
"When Kobe Bryant died, a piece of me died," Jordan said. "As I got to know him, I wanted to be the best big brother I could be."
Shaquille O'Neal brought happiness to the service with jokes about his relationship with Kobe Bryant as a friend and teammate.
Other performances by Alicia Keys and Christina Aguilera brought many attendees to tears, including Vanessa Bryant.
From the clothes people wore to the cars they drove, purple and gold were donned by many in downtown Los Angeles as people pay tribute to the lives of Kobe Bryant and his daughter.
Attendees of the public memorial received a keepsake book to celebrate the lives of Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant's life. The family filled the book with family photos and memories from the Bryants' public lives.
The Celebration of Life featured music and retrospectives on Kobe Bryant's career, along with speakers reflecting on his impact on his sport and the world. Bryant became active in film, television, and writing after his career ended in 2016.
According to the Associated Press, the ceremony will be held on a 24-foot-by-24-foot stage. Kobe's wife and Gianna's mother, Vanessa, chose Feb. 24 (2/24) to honor both Kobe's uniform number and Gianna's, according to the A.P. Gianna wore No. 2 on her basketball teams.
Bryant and Gianna were killed along with seven other people in a helicopter crash in Calabasas on Jan. 26.
The other crash victims were John Altobelli, 56, the longtime coach of the Orange Coast College baseball team, his wife, Keri, 46, and their 13-year-old daughter Alyssa, who was a teammate of Gianna on Bryant's Mamba Sports Academy basketball team. Sarah Chester, 45, and her 13-year-old daughter Payton, who also played with Gianna and Alyssa, died in the crash as well. Lastly, 38-year-old Christina Mauser, one of Bryant's assistant coaches on the Mamba Academy team, died along with the pilot Ara Zobayan, 50.
Ticket prices for the memorial ranged from $24.02 to $224 – another homage to Bryant. All proceeds from the ticket sales will be donated to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation.
Kobe and Gianna were laid to rest in a private ceremony earlier this month.
'Celebration of Life' memorial for Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna | GALLERY
More from ABC10 on Kobe Bryant:
- No tickets for Kobe memorial? Authorities say stay clear of Staples Center
- Jennifer Hudson joins other stars honoring Kobe Bryant at NBA All-Star game
- NBA names All-Star Game MVP Award after Kobe Bryant
- Vanessa Bryant renames Kobe's Mamba Sports Foundation to honor daughter Gianna
- Details of Kobe Bryant's private funeral have been released
- Memorial service held for family who died in crash with Kobe Bryant
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