Vanessa Bryant says her ‘brain refuses to accept’ that Kobe and Gigi are gone

Vanessa Bryant says she is still having a tough time processing both her husband’s and daughter’s deaths.

READ MORE: Vanessa Bryant breaks silence after tragic loss of husband Kobe and daughter Gianna

In a heart-wrenching Instagram post, Bryant said her “brain refuses to accept” that both her husband, Kobe Bryant, and 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, are no longer here.

 

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I’ve been reluctant to put my feelings into words. My brain refuses to accept that both Kobe and Gigi are gone. I can’t process both at the same time. It’s like I’m trying to process Kobe being gone but my body refuses to accept my Gigi will never come back to me. It feels wrong. Why should I be able to wake up another day when my baby girl isn’t being able to have that opportunity?! I’m so mad. She had so much life to live. Then I realize I need to be strong and be here for my 3 daughters. Mad I’m not with Kobe and Gigi but thankful I’m here with Natalia, Bianka and Capri. I know what I’m feeling is normal. It’s part of the grieving process. I just wanted to share in case there’s anyone out there that’s experienced a loss like this. God I wish they were here and this nightmare would be over. Praying for all of the victims of this horrible tragedy. Please continue to pray for all.

A post shared by Vanessa Bryant 🦋 (@vanessabryant) on Feb 10, 2020 at 11:14am PST

“I’ve been reluctant to put my feelings into words,” Bryant wrote in the post. “My brain refuses to accept that both Kobe and Gigi are gone. I can’t process both at the same time. It’s like I’m trying to process Kobe being gone but my body refuses to accept my Gigi will never come back to me. It feels wrong.”

“Why should I be able to wake up another day when my baby girl isn’t being able to have that opportunity?! I’m so mad. She had so much life to live. Then I realize I need to be strong and be here for my 3 daughters,” Vanessa Bryant posted. “Mad I’m not with Kobe and Gigi but thankful I’m here with Natalia, Bianka, and Capri.

Kobe and Gigi were killed on January 26 after the helicopter they were riding in tragically crashed in Calabasas, California. Seven other people, including a few of Gianna’s teammates and their parents, were also killed. The passengers were headed to a tournament at Bryant’s Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks when their helicopter went down. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Bryant said she is also heartbroken for the other victims and their families and that she hoped her post might provide comfort to them in their time of grief.

“I know what I’m feeling is normal. It’s part of the grieving process. I just wanted to share in case there’s anyone out there that’s experienced a loss like this,” she wrote. “Praying for all of the victims of this horrible tragedy. God, I wish they were here and this nightmare would be over. Praying for all of the victims of this horrible tragedy. Please continue to pray for all.”

READ MORE: Date set for Kobe Bryant and Gigi’s public memorial service at Staples Center

Last week, Bryant announced that a memorial service for Kobe and Gianna will be held on February 24 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The post Vanessa Bryant says her ‘brain refuses to accept’ that Kobe and Gigi are gone appeared first on TheGrio.

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This Husband-and-Wife Couple are Building the First Black-owned Bourbon Distillery in Kentucky

Power couple Sean and Tia Edwards are set to launch the first bourbon distillery in Kentucky. Their company, Fresh Bourbon Distilling Co., has announced that they plan to build a $5.4 million distillery in downtown Lexington. Nearly three years after the company’s launch in 2017, the Edwards embark on their biggest venture to date. This past December, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) preliminarily approved a 10-year incentive deal with Fresh Bourbon Distilling through the Kentucky Business Investment Program. The contract is performance-based and can provide up to $200,000 in tax incentives based on the firm’s investment of $5.4 million and the meeting of a number of yearly targets. The targets include the creation and upkeep of 15 local full-time jobs across 10 years and paying an average wage of $18 an hour including benefits across those jobs.

The married couple entered a space that is rarely occupied by black business owners, per The New York Times, since white people make up about three-quarters of all bourbon consumers in the United States, according to a survey by the media company Gravity. African Americans are the most likely demographic group to prefer spirits like whiskey or cognac over beer or wine, according to Nielsen research. Although they constitute roughly 13% of the total population, they are just 9% of bourbon drinkers. They can tap into a bourbon market that is steadily growing at 6% or more a year, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.

The KEDFA has also approved Fresh Bourbon Distilling Co for up to $125,000 in tax incentives through the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA), which can be used to recoup Kentucky sales and use tax on construction costs, building fixtures, equipment used in research and development, and electronic processing, according to distillerytrail.com.

Fresh Bourbon Distilling Co. is making strides in progress as the company recently completed its first round of financing, with a second-round near finalization.

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Omar al-Bashir: Sudan to hand ex-president to ICC

The former strongman faces charges of genocide and war crimes over killings in Darfur.

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Netflix picks up highly anticipated film about Nipsey Hussle’s life

The marathon continues on Netflix.

The streaming giant picked up a feature-length documentary on Nipsey Hussle’s life, produced and directed by Ava DuVernay, after a bidding war with other networks that reportedly include Apple and Amazon. The film is said to have commanded in the high eight figures and will be put out by DuVernay’s ARRAY, a media and arts collective, and Hussle’s Marathon Films, according to Deadline.

READ MORE: Ava DuVernay thanks Critics’ Choice for ‘seeing us’ at awards show

Nipsey, 33, was killed last March 31 in front of his South L.A. Marathon Clothing store. At last month’s Grammy Awards, DuVernay introduced a tribute to Hussle that brought out performances by Meek Mill, DJ Khaled and John Legend.

Deadline reports that Nipsey’s estate reached out to DuVernay directly for the documentary based on their love of her work, including 13th and When They See Us. DuVernay also has a new series debuting on OWN called Cherish the Day and the DMZ pilot currently in production for HBO Max starring Rosario Dawson. DuVernay is also currently working on a big-budget theater version of New Gods by Jack Kirby. Part of Warner Bros, DuVernay and Tom King are co-writing the film.

DuVernay signed a $100 million deal with Warner Bros Television Group in 2018. The multi-year deal covers multi genres including drama, documentaries, comedies, digital content and event projects for broadcast and cable, premium cable and streaming services, according to Deadline.

READ MORE: Nipsey Hussle set to receive star-studded tribute during 2020 Grammy Awards

Nipsey film marks DuVernay’s return to documentaries since putting out 13th, which was about mass incarceration and racism throughout the criminal justice system the criminal justice. When They See Us was a limited Netflix series that recounts the stories of the five Black teenagers dubbed the Central Park Five, who were wrongly arrested and convicted of raping a jogger in Central Park.

Hussle’s family is participating in his documentary. Since his death, Hussle has inspired a Puma clothing line and a book club, among other things.

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Conservative News Sites Track You Lots More Than Left-Leaning Ones

One analysis of news outlets found that the median popular right-wing site planted 73 percent more cookies than its left-wing counterpart.

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Hurling Satellites Into Space Seems Crazy—but Might Just Work

A startup called SpinLaunch wants to do away with costly launch rockets. Let's look at the physics.

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Hisense Signs Former Miami Heat Dwyane Wade as Its First US Ambassador

Chinese consumer electronics brand Hisense has recently inked former Miami Heat player, Dwyane Wade to be its first US brand ambassador, according to Broadcasting + Cable.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dwyane Wade to the Hisense team and look forward to working with him to take the Hisense brand to the next level,” says David Gold, VP, Consumer Electronics at Hisense U.S., says in a statement to Broadcasting + Cable. “More than just an athlete and savvy businessman, he’s dependable, competitive and shares our commitment to being the best in every aspect of his life. This partnership provides the perfect alignment for Hisense and represents our continued commitment to grow our brand in the US. We are very excited to embark on this journey to further elevate the brand together and bring sports into the home on a more intimate level.”

Hisense announced a comprehensive marketing and multiyear partnership with Wade, who is a three-time NBA Champion, NBA Finals MVP, and 13-time NBA All-Star. He will bring awareness to the brand through the support of premium product launches, in-person appearances, and will feature in upcoming marketing campaigns.

“I’m looking forward to joining the Hisense team as an ambassador of their high-performing products with top-notch technology and great-looking design,” said Dwyane Wade. “Based on their dedication to excellence, their rapid growth and the way their products elevate the TV viewing and home experience globally, I am proud to partner with them in this exciting new role.”

Wade also has a lucrative lifetime contract with the Chinese sneaker brand Li-Ning.

Wade is a retired three-time NBA Champion (2006, 2012, and 2013) and 13-time All-Star selection. In 2006, three years after first joining the Heat as the No. 5 overall draft pick, he led the team to Miami’s first-ever NBA Championship and was named MVP of the Finals. In 2012 and 2013, Dwyane won his second and third NBA Championships. In 2004, he created the Wade’s World Foundation, which provides support to various educational, health, and family service programs, in particular, those that benefit underserved communities in Miami and his hometown of Chicago. In 2011, Wade was appointed to President Obama’s Fatherhood Task Force. In September 2012, he became a New York Times best-selling author, with the release of his first book, A FATHER FIRST: How My Life Became Bigger than Basketball.

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Kenyans say farewell to Daniel arap Moi

About 30,000 people packed a stadium for the state funeral of the country's longest-serving president.

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Duuuuude. What Happens If the Earth Gains Consciousness?

The interactive art pop-up 'The End of You' tackles the environmental crisis through a transhumanistic lens. It'll even let you morph into a tree. Well, sorta.

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The Big (Yet Hidden) Consequences of Antarctica's Record Heat

As the continent rapidly warms, unique communities of tiny animals like water bears are transforming in profound ways.

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Kenya's Daniel arap Moi: Thousands pack stadium for funeral

The East African state's longest-serving president, who died aged 95, leaves a mixed legacy.

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Can the Government Buy Its Way Around the Fourth Amendment?

Immigration authorities are purchasing cell phone location data, and it might be totally legal.  

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Trump Proposes a Cut in Research Spending, but a Boost for AI

The president is betting on payoffs from artificial intelligence and quantum. But some researchers say gains are dependent on progress in other fields. 

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19 Valentine's Day Deals to Gift Your Sweetheart (or Yourself)

From Apple Watches to a comfy mattress, we found swoon-worthy discounts on all sorts of gear and gadgets.

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Google's Giving Out Security Keys to Help Protect Campaigns

Candidates can also get trained up on how to use Advanced Protection to keep their accounts safe.

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The Food We'll Eat on the Journey to Mars (Algae Caviar, Anyone?)

Humans are headed for the cosmos, and we’re taking our appetites with us. What will fill the void when we leave Earth behind?

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Ladysmith Black Mambazo founder Joseph Shabalala dies

The musician founded the world-famous South African choral group and directed it for 50 years.

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Daniel arap Moi: How Kenyans learnt to laugh at the president

Ex-President Moi left a mixed legacy but Kenyans learnt to laugh at his dictatorial excesses.

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Billy Porter gives advice to parents upset about him wearing a dress on ‘Sesame Street’

Earlier this month it was announced that Billy Porter will be one of the celebrity guest stars making an appearance during the 51st season of Sesame Street. Now the Pose star has some advice for all the parents who were appalled to discover he’ll be wearing a dress during the broadcast.

The beloved children’s television show recently posted photos on social media from a shoot featuring the Broadway star hanging out on the iconic set. In the snapshots the actor is very proudly rocking one of his most memorable red carpet looks, specifically the velvet gender-bending Christian Siriano tuxedo gown and jacket that he wore to the 2019 Oscars.

READ MORE: Ta-Nehisi Coates addresses men “too weak” to disagree with Gayle King respectfully, #IStandWithGayle trends

According to Paper Magazine, a tidal wave of outraged fans and concerned parents flooded the comments section of the post, threatening to no longer let their kids watch the show.

“So sad to see this on Sesame Street… this is not about acceptance or love. This is trying to force someone’s lifestyle onto our children, this is confusing and dangerous,” one user wrote.

Page Six also reported that a petition is also circulating that accuses Sesame Street of “[sexualizing] children using drag queens.”

READ MORE: ‘I would never’: Issa Rae shuts down rumors she’s remaking ‘Set It Off’

Porter responded to Page Six directly, pointing out, “If you don’t like it, don’t watch it.” He also added that he found it strange people related his Oscars dress to “perverted demon sex.”

“Like, what about me singing with a penguin [on the show] has anything to do with what I’m doing in my bedroom?,” he inquired. “The really interesting thing for me is that that’s what it’s all about when it comes to LGBTQ people — the first thing everyone wants to talk about is how we having sex.”

“Stay out of my bedroom and you will be fine — that is none of your business,” he concluded.

READ MORE: Rep. Ayanna Pressley responds after internet trolls call her “Mr. Clean”

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@theebillyporter bringing those fierce vibes to Sesame Street for #Season51 🔥 💯 • • • #sesamestreet #billyporter #thebillyporter #tonyawards #broadway #grammys #goldenglobes #cookiemonster #oscarthegrouch #elmo

A post shared by Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) on Jan 30, 2020 at 5:35am PST

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Nigeria militants burn to death motorists as they sleep in their cars

At least 30 are killed in a night-time raid on a small town in Nigeria's north-east, officials say.

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