Moms and daughters can have some of the most tumultuous relationships. It seems Vanessa Bryant and her mother, Sofia Laine, are no exception.
Reports have claimed that Sofia had been a major support system for Vanessa in recent months. However, Sofia claims that a rift between her and her daughter behind the scenes has been a crushing blow.
Sofia appeared on Univision's Spanish-language El Gordo y La Flaca for an exclusive interview on the show on Monday. There, Sofia tearfully said her relationship with her daughter is on the rocks. It happened, according to Sofia, after Kobe's death.
Sofia maintained she wanted to help her daughter after the tragic deaths of Kobe and daughter Gianna. She claimed that Vanessa was more concerned with tightening the purse strings. She said that Vanessa kicked her out of the Irvine home she was living in. Additionally, Sofia said Vanessa took back the car she had been using.
Vanessa has released a statement since the interview aired. She's standing her ground, even as her mother causes her more heartache.
Kobe Bryant's rocky relationship with his own parents was well-documented throughout the NBA superstar's career. Kobe found another family in his wife Vanessa's family, however. Throughout his life, he was reportedly pretty close with his mother-in-law, Sofia Laine.
By all accounts, Vanessa had been leaning on Sofia since losing Kobe and Gianna in the helicopter crash in January.
"[Vanessa] is incredibly close to her mom and her mom has been her rock throughout the past few weeks," a source told Us Weekly in February.
"Her mom is always with her and the girls and she's been keeping Vanessa strong and she's the weight of her support system."
It's unclear what happened between then and now, but we now know there's a rift between mother and daughter. The public side of things all started on Sunday, when Spanish network Univision teased an interview with Sofia on El Gordo y La Flaca. In the clip, Sofia tearfully said that Vanessa took her car and home after Kobe's death.
The full interview aired on Monday. In the interview, Sofia opened up by saying she didn't know how things came to how they are today. She explained that one day, Vanessa told her she needed to sell the home where Sofia lived, in Irvine. The three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom home was purchased for $1.7 million on December 27, 2013.
Sofia went on to claim that Vanessa also said she would need to take back the car they were letting Sofia use.
"She told me, 'I need you to get out of this house.' She also told me that she wanted her car and she wants it now," she told correspondent David Valadez.
Sofia also said that Vanessa texted her, saying that Sofia was stressing her out and that added to the decision.
Sofia also claimed that Vanessa sold the home they shared, in part because of Natalia. Natalia reportedly couldn't move through the home without vivid memories of Kobe and Gigi. The heartbreaking detail is a stark reminder of how the kids — and Natalia in particular — will undoubtedly be affected by this public back-and-forth.
Sofia claimed that she's been abandoned by her daughter and doesn't have enough money to get by. She said that she's currently living in an apartment that Vanessa's paying for, but it won't last long.
Sofia said that Vanessa told her she'd continue to pay for the apartment through when the lease is up in March. After that, Sofia would be on her own.
Sofia said she's also deeply hurt because the falling out is affecting her relationship with the children. Sofia claimed Vanessa promised she wouldn't keep the girls from her, but that hasn't been the case.
Sofia claimed that she discovered her name was taken off the security clearance list, keeping her from visiting the girls at home. She said that Natalia used to answer her phone calls and FaceTime her, but she no longer does. She misses her three granddaughters.
Sofia also shared some other information during the interview. She said the claims that Kobe and Vanessa had a pact never to fly in the helicopter together were false. The crash was something they could have never foreseen. That said, Sofia shared uneasy feelings about the crash, saying something about it feels suspicious to her.
Vanessa wasted no time in voicing her own side of things. When Univision reached out to her for a statement, she said her piece in Spanish. Her statement, translated below, is crushing.
"My husband and daughter passed away unexpectedly, and yet my mother had the audacity to do a TV interview speaking negatively of me while shedding tears for a car and a house that were not in her name," Vanessa said in her statement to the network.
"She has removed all her diamond jewelry, emptied the apartment I provided, and put away the furniture to make it look like she doesn't have my support. My husband and I have supported her financially for the past 20 years, and I continue to do so in addition to her monthly alimony," Vanessa continued.
"Contrary to previous reports, she has not been physically present or emotionally supportive of my daughters and me after my husband and daughter passed away. Now I see what is most important to my mother and it's more than painful. I hope that everything that is coming out about our personal relationship ends here."
Much of the public reaction has been shock. Most people feel there was no reason for Sofia to take her grievances with her daughter on national television, especially as Vanessa still grapples with the loss of her husband and child. Sofia's decision to go public has raised a lot of questions about her intentions and ultimate goal.
People have also criticized the show for airing the interview. It's clear this family has been through an immense amount of pain this year. Their dirty laundry shouldn't have been aired, even if it was coming directly from a member of the family.
