ExclusiveBeyonce and Jay-Z Had ‘No Intention’ of Going to the Grammys: ‘They Are Devastated’ Over Kobe and Gigi
Even though Beyoncé was up for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 2020 Grammy Awards, the singer and her husband, Jay-Z, had no interest in appearing at the event. “Jay-Z and Beyoncé weren’t planning on attending the Grammys,” a source tells In Touch exclusively. “They supported Diddy at his ceremony and had their annual Roc Nation brunch, but they had no intention on going to the awards show.”
“Additionally, they are both heartbroken over Kobe and Gianna’s passing,” the insider adds. The power couple — who has been pals with Bryant and his wife, Vanessa Bryant, for a long time — was just with them at Diddy’s 50th birthday party. “They were hanging out with Vanessa and Kobe all night and have been close with them for many years. They are totally devastated,” the source reveals.
The Los Angeles Lakers player even loved listening to Jay-Z’s music before games. “Whenever a new Jay-Z album came out, it was a big deal,” Bryant’s former teammate, Brian Shaw, told The Players’ Tribune in 2016. “Guys would get it day one and be rapping their favorite songs. Maybe they knew the first few bars or the hook. Well, Kobe would be in the back of the bus rapping every single line of every single song the day after the album came out. I’m talking every lyric. It was genuinely amazing. Nobody could figure out how it was possible.”
The singer, 38, and the rapper, 50, haven’t publicly spoken about Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna’s deaths following the tragic helicopter accident. However, the producer’s company, Roc Nation, paid respect to the basketball legend on Instagram. “So touched by @AliciaKeys & @BoyzIIMen’s tribute to @KobeBryant and his family,” they wrote on January 26.
Keys, 39, took a minute to remember the legendary athlete before the ceremony began. “We never imagined in a million years we’d have to start the show like this,” she said. “To be honest with you, we’re all feeling crazy sadness right now because earlier today Los Angeles, America and the whole wide world lost a hero. And we’re literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built.” The songstress then sang “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” with Boyz II Men.
Throughout the show, Bryant’s name was mentioned several times including during the tribute to Nipsey Hussle. Additionally, Bryant’s No. 24 jersey was shown while Lil Nas X performed “Old Town Road” and Aerosmith brought down the house with “Walk This Way.”
Of course, many other celebrities have spoken about Bryant and the impact he had on their lives. Dwyane Wade wrote on Twitter, “Heroes come and go LEGENDS live forever #8 #24.” Additionally, he took to his Instagram Stories to express how upset he was that his friend is gone. “Today is one of the saddest days in my lifetime,” he said. “It seems like a bad dream that you just wanna wake up from. It’s a nightmare.” Shaq added, “There’s no words to express the pain I’m going through with this tragedy of [losing] my niece Gigi and my brother.”
Even though Bryant is no longer with us, his legacy will continue to live on.
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