Vanessa Bryant reacts to pregnancy rumours with Rihanna meme after claims Kobe Bryant's wife is expecting with 27-yr-old NBA star

Time of India

2 days ago

Vanessa Bryant has finally responded to the wave of speculations surrounding her rumored pregnancy, and her post comes just days after social media users put her on a virtual trial for allegedly moving on from her late husband, NBA legend Kobe Bryant, and reportedly dating a 27-year-old basketball player. While none of these claims have been confirmed, the speculation has been relentless, with users spreading old photos and commentary about her private life across platforms like TikTok and Facebook.
Vanessa Bryant shuts down pregnancy claims with Rihanna meme
Vanessa seemed to have had enough of the online chatter. In what felt like a clear response to all the rumours, she took to Instagram and shared a meme of Rihanna casually flipping the middle finger. The message on it read, 'Me protecting my peace, not pregnant, and having fun all summer.' It didn't take long for people to connect the dots. Without saying anything directly, Vanessa managed to address the pregnancy rumours and all the noise around her alleged relationship on her own terms, and with a little attitude but a lot of sass.
Where the Vanessa Bryant pregnancy rumours started
The rumours began circulating a few weeks ago and quickly picked up steam online. Some users shared throwback photos they claimed showed Vanessa with a baby bump, while others spread unverified stories that she was expecting a child with a much younger NBA player.
One widely shared post on Facebook read, 'Vanessa Bryant is pregnant with a 27-year-old basketball player. Kobe gave his life, ruined family relationships behind this woman, and just 5 years later, she's pregnant again?' Another wrote, 'So rumor has it that Vanessa Bryant is pregnant, which I don't believe, but even if it were true, Kobe passed 5 years ago. She's not breaking any vows.'
The internet defends Vanessa and calls out the double standards.
While the rumours sparked debate, a large number of people came to Vanessa's defence. Fans pointed out that she has been nothing but respectful and devoted to Kobe's legacy since his tragic passing in 2020, and that five years is not an unreasonable amount of time to begin healing and possibly starting over.
One post read, "It's been over 5 years, and Vanessa Bryant has held up Kobe's legacy with nothing but honor. Who gives a fuck if she's dating and/or pregnant? You're all weird."
A second noted, "You all believe anything. There is no evidence that Vanessa Bryant is pregnant. Even if she were, why does it matter? Women shouldn't be expected to halt their lives indefinitely after a spouse's death. That idea is outdated and unfair. The vow says 'till death do us part,' which pertains to the marriage itself, not to a widow's future. Her husband passed away. Had she passed, he would have likely moved on. Which he tended to do in their marriage. She fulfilled her marital commitment. It's time for you all to accept that and move on.
Y'all believe anything. There is no evidence that Vanessa Bryant is pregnant. Even if she were, why does it matter? Women shouldn't be expected to halt their lives indefinitely after a spouse's death. That idea is outdated and unfair. The vow says 'till death do us part' which…
Who is Vanessa Bryant?
Vanessa Bryant, 42, is not only the widow of one of the greatest basketball players of all time but also a mother of four and the head of the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation. Despite the public's ongoing interest in her personal life, she has largely kept a low profile over the years, occasionally sharing glimpses of her family and charity work online.
About Vanessa and Kobe Bryant's relationship
Vanessa and Kobe Bryant's love story started when she was just 17 and he was already a rising NBA star. They met in 1999, got engaged just six months later, and married in 2001. It wasn't always easy for the young couple as they dealt with a lot of public attention and even family tension early on, but they stuck together. Over the years, they built a life full of love and compassion.
They became parents to four daughters: Natalia, their eldest, was born in 2003. Gianna followed in 2006, and she shared her dad's love for basketball in a way that touched so many. Tragically, Gianna passed away with Kobe in the 2020 helicopter crash. Their two youngest, Bianka (born in 2016) and Capri (born in 2019), were both still so little when the tragedy happened.
Kobe often spoke about how much he loved being a 'girl dad,' and Vanessa has kept that spirit alive. Since his passing, she's stayed devoted to their daughters while also protecting their privacy.
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