The mother of Kobe Bryant’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, is suing her daughter for financial support. Sofia Lane claims in court documents that she worked without pay as a “longtime personal assistant and nanny” for the Bryants over the years.
Lane claims that Kobe had promised to take care of her for the rest of her life. She takes pointed shots at her very own daughter, claiming in the suit that “Unfortunately, Kobe Bryant’s promises did not see the light of day as he is now deceased, and Vanessa Bryant took each and every step she could to void and cancel all of Kobe Bryant’s promises made to [Laine]. Vanessa Bryant did not intend to honor any of the Bryants’ representations, agreements and promises at any stage.”
While Lane’s claims were general, Vanessa responded to the accusations with details that make the suit out to be nothing more than a money grab. Vanessa accuses her mother of “continuing to try and find ways to extort a financial windfall from our family.”
In a statement to People magazine, Vanessa offered more details about her history with her mother.
“I have supported her for nearly 20 years, and she was never my or Kobe’s personal assistant, nor was she a nanny. I have always been a stay-at-home mother, and my husband and I were our daughters’ full-time caregivers.
Vanessa also described how she and Kobe provided Lane with free housing.
“For nearly two decades, we arranged for my mother to live in our nearby properties, at no cost to her because she had claimed that she didn’t have any money to buy her own home after her divorce.” Vanessa continued, “My husband and I felt it was best for her not to live in our home. She watched our girls from time to time, just like most grandparents do. She did not take care of business issues or expenses. She was a grandmother who was supported by me and her son-in-law at my request. She now wants to back-charge me $96 per hour for supposedly working 12 hours a day for 18 years for watching her grandchildren. In reality, she only occasionally babysat my older girls when they were toddlers. As of 10 years ago, our kids were full-time students and athletes and I didn’t have another child until 2016. Her claims are obviously false but I still tried, repeatedly, to work things out with my mother.”
Vanessa said that Lane used intermediaries to “demand $5 million, a house and a Mercedes SUV.”
Vanessa Bryant has been incredibly dignified throughout this incredibly tragic year as she navigates the horrific aftermath of Kobe’s death. She said, “My husband never promised my mother anything, and he would be so disappointed in her behavior and lack of empathy.”
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