Jay-Z has revealed one of the last things Kobe Bryant said to him before he and his daughter died in a helicopter crash.
NBA legend Bryant died in the accident in January, aged 41, along with eight other people including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna.
On Tuesday (4 February), Jay-Z told an audience at Columbia University that the pair celebrated the most recent New Year’s together, and one of the last conversations they had was about Bryant’s pride in his young daughter.
“He was just in the greatest space that I’ve seen him in,” the rapper said. “One of the last things he said to me was, ‘You’ve gotta see Gianna play basketball.’ And that was one of the most hurtful things, because he was so proud.”
1/22 Derek Acorah
TV medium presenter Derek Acorah died aged 69 on 3 January, 2020 after suffering “a very brief illness”. He was best known for presenting Most Haunted.
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5/22 Harry Hains
Actor Harry Hains starred in shows including The OA and American Horror Story, as well as working as a model and musician. He died aged 27, his mother confirmed on Instagram, after struggles with mental health and addiction. The cause of his death was not disclosed.
Harry Hains / Instagram
6/22 Alexis Eddy
Alexis Eddy was a contestant on season six of MTV’s ‘Are You the One?’ She died after suffering a cardiac arrest on 9 January, aged 23.
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Edd Byrnes played smooth-talking dance contest host Vince Fontaine in 1978 musical ‘Grease’. He died suddenly on 8 January.
8/22 Stan Kirsch
Stan Kirsch, who starred in the Highlander TV series and in an episode of Friends, died on 11 January at his Los Angeles home. He played Richie Ryan in Highlander: The Series and Monica’s underage love interest Ethan in the season one Friends episode ‘The One With the Ick Factor’.
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Jim Lehrer, the famed host of PBS NewsHour, died at the age of 85 “peacefully in his sleep”, according to the network. Lehrer was also a frequent debate moderator during elections.
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Tyler Gwozdz died of a suspected drug overdose aged 29 on 13 January 2020. He appeared on US reality series ‘The Bachelorette’ in 2019
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12/22 Terry Jones
Monty Python co-creator, writer, actor and director of ‘Life of Brian’ Terry Jones died aged 77 on 21 January 2020.
13/22 Nicholas Parsons
Broadcaster Nicholas Parsons died aged of 96 on 28 January after a short illness. He presented BBC Radio 4’s Just a Minute and popular ITV game show Sale of the Century.
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14/22 Kirk Douglas
Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas died aged 103 on 5 February.
United Artists
15/22 Raphael Coleman
Raphael Coleman, who starred in Nanny McPhee, died at the age of 25 on 6 February.
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16/22 Orson Bean
Veteran actor Orson Bean, who appeared in more than 100 TV shows and films over a career that spanned over six decades, died aged 91 after being struck by two cars in Venice, California.
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17/22 Joseph Shabalala
Shabalala, the founder of the South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, died in February aged 78. He is known around the world for leading one of the most recognised acts from South Africa.
AP Photo/Joseph Kaczmarek
18/22 Caroline Flack
Caroline Flack died on 15 February, aged 40. The presenter was best known for presenting Love Island.
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19/22 Nikita Pearl Galigwa
Child star Nikita Pearl Waligwa, who appeared in Disney film Queen of Katwe, died aged 15 on 16 February.
Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture
20/22 Jason Davis
Former child star Jason Davis, who voiced Recess character Mikey Blumberg, died aged 35 on 16 February.
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21/22 Andrew Weatherall
The DJ and musician Andrew Weatherall died 17 February at the age of 56.
A pioneer in the genres of acid house and electronica, Weatherall produced albums, remixed musicians and worked as a DJ, artist and journalist.
He died “swiftly and peacefully” in a London hospital, his management confirmed, after experiencing a pulmonary embolism.
John Barrett
22/22 Esther Scott
The actor Esther Scott died on 18 February aged 66 after suffering a heart attack.
She’s remembered for her roles in Boyz n the Hood, Hart of Dixie, and many other programmes including Beverly Hills, 90210, Full House, Melrose Place, The King of Queens, Sister, Sister, 7th Heaven, and ER.
Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival
1/22 Derek Acorah
TV medium presenter Derek Acorah died aged 69 on 3 January, 2020 after suffering “a very brief illness”. He was best known for presenting Most Haunted.
Getty Images
2/22 Christopher Beeny
‘Upstairs Downstairs’ actor Christopher Beeny died aged 78 on 3 January, 2020. He also starred in ‘In Loving Memory’ and ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ alongside Thora Hird.
Rex Features
3/22 Elizabeth Wurtzel
American writer and journalist Elizabeth Wurtzel died aged 52 on 7 January, 2020. The author of Prozac Nation, who sparked a boom in confessional writing, had been suffering from cancer.
Rex Features
4/22 Buck Henry
The acclaimed screenwriter behind The Graduate and Get Smart died of a heart attack on 8 January, aged 89. He received critical acclaim for co-writing the 1967 Oscar-nominated film The Graduate, and also received a Best Director Academy Award nomination for the comedy Heaven Can Wait, alongside Warren Beatty.
Getty
5/22 Harry Hains
Actor Harry Hains starred in shows including The OA and American Horror Story, as well as working as a model and musician. He died aged 27, his mother confirmed on Instagram, after struggles with mental health and addiction. The cause of his death was not disclosed.
Harry Hains / Instagram
6/22 Alexis Eddy
Alexis Eddy was a contestant on season six of MTV’s ‘Are You the One?’ She died after suffering a cardiac arrest on 9 January, aged 23.
7/22 Edd Byrnes
Edd Byrnes played smooth-talking dance contest host Vince Fontaine in 1978 musical ‘Grease’. He died suddenly on 8 January.
8/22 Stan Kirsch
Stan Kirsch, who starred in the Highlander TV series and in an episode of Friends, died on 11 January at his Los Angeles home. He played Richie Ryan in Highlander: The Series and Monica’s underage love interest Ethan in the season one Friends episode ‘The One With the Ick Factor’.
YouTube
9/22 Derek Fowlds
Derek Fowlds died on 17 January, aged 82. The British star was best known for playing Bernard Wooley in Yes Minister and its spin-off Yes Prime Minister, as well as Sgt Oscar Blaketon in Heartbeat.
Rex
10/22 Jim Lehrer
Jim Lehrer, the famed host of PBS NewsHour, died at the age of 85 “peacefully in his sleep”, according to the network. Lehrer was also a frequent debate moderator during elections.
David McNew/Getty Images
11/22 Tyler Gwozdz
Tyler Gwozdz died of a suspected drug overdose aged 29 on 13 January 2020. He appeared on US reality series ‘The Bachelorette’ in 2019
ABC
12/22 Terry Jones
Monty Python co-creator, writer, actor and director of ‘Life of Brian’ Terry Jones died aged 77 on 21 January 2020.
13/22 Nicholas Parsons
Broadcaster Nicholas Parsons died aged of 96 on 28 January after a short illness. He presented BBC Radio 4’s Just a Minute and popular ITV game show Sale of the Century.
Getty
14/22 Kirk Douglas
Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas died aged 103 on 5 February.
United Artists
15/22 Raphael Coleman
Raphael Coleman, who starred in Nanny McPhee, died at the age of 25 on 6 February.
Getty Images
16/22 Orson Bean
Veteran actor Orson Bean, who appeared in more than 100 TV shows and films over a career that spanned over six decades, died aged 91 after being struck by two cars in Venice, California.
Rex
17/22 Joseph Shabalala
Shabalala, the founder of the South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, died in February aged 78. He is known around the world for leading one of the most recognised acts from South Africa.
AP Photo/Joseph Kaczmarek
18/22 Caroline Flack
Caroline Flack died on 15 February, aged 40. The presenter was best known for presenting Love Island.
Getty
19/22 Nikita Pearl Galigwa
Child star Nikita Pearl Waligwa, who appeared in Disney film Queen of Katwe, died aged 15 on 16 February.
Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture
20/22 Jason Davis
Former child star Jason Davis, who voiced Recess character Mikey Blumberg, died aged 35 on 16 February.
Getty Images
21/22 Andrew Weatherall
The DJ and musician Andrew Weatherall died 17 February at the age of 56.
A pioneer in the genres of acid house and electronica, Weatherall produced albums, remixed musicians and worked as a DJ, artist and journalist.
He died “swiftly and peacefully” in a London hospital, his management confirmed, after experiencing a pulmonary embolism.
John Barrett
22/22 Esther Scott
The actor Esther Scott died on 18 February aged 66 after suffering a heart attack.
She’s remembered for her roles in Boyz n the Hood, Hart of Dixie, and many other programmes including Beverly Hills, 90210, Full House, Melrose Place, The King of Queens, Sister, Sister, 7th Heaven, and ER.
Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival
Jay-Z added: “And the look on his face was like – I looked at him and said, ‘Oh, she’s going to be the best female basketball player in the world.’ He was just so proud. So that’s really a tough one.”
After the crash, Beyoncé shared photos of Bryant and his daughter and paid tribute on Instagram.
In the same speech on Tuesday, Jay-Z denied speculation that his and Beyoncé’s decision not to stand during the Super Bowl national anthem was a protest.