Fans agree that Vanessa Bryant is one of the strongest people ever, and have been unwavering in their support after the devastating loss of her husband Kobe Bryant and 13-year-old daughter Gianna.
At one of the worst times of her life, even though the fan support has kept the Bryants going, the person Vanessa would need most in the world after her devastating ordeal is her mother.
Now imagine the betrayal Vanessa must feel at discovering that in her time of need, her mother Sofia Laine was not there for her. Instead, Sofia filed a lawsuit against the mother of four, as she attempted to back charge Vanessa $96 an hour for 18 years of babysitting her children.
The lawsuit between Vanessa and her mother has been settled, but the same can not be said for the animosity between the mother and daughter.
Why Did Sofia Laine File A Lawsuit Against Vanessa Bryant?
Sofia did an exclusive interview where she spoke about her relationship with her daughter. Sofia claimed to have been kicked out of the family home and asked by Vanessa to return the car that the Bryants purchased.
As well as wanting the car back, Vanessa told Sofia to pack her belongings and leave.
Vanessa has strongly denied all of her mother's accusations and fiercely refuted the claims in the lawsuit, saying that her mother has continued to "try and find ways to extort a financial windfall from our family."
After refuting the claims made by Sofia about Kobe promising to financially support her, of being kicked out of the home, and asked to return possessions, Vanessa had words for her mother.
She noted; "[Sofia] 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."
How Vanessa Bryant Fans Reacted To The Settlement
Vanessa has called her mother out through a statement posted on her Instagram story.
"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."
Vanessa was supported and praised by fans on social media, who expressed their anger and outrage at the way Sofia has treated her daughter and handled the situation.
Some social media users have been divided, however, pointing out that Sofia is her mother and should respect her and help her out financially.
What Is Vanessa Bryant's Relationship Like With Her Mother Now?
Even though the lawsuit has been settled, meaning that Sofia did not get her $5 million for being "nanny" to her grandchildren, Vanessa will likely find it incredibly difficult to forgive her mother after everything she's been through.
Vanessa and Sofia have stopped speaking due to the lawsuit, and no one can imagine the pain and suffering Vanessa and her children have been through.
It's unclear if Vanessa has had any contact with her mother since the lawsuit, but the sad fact is that as well as losing a father and sister, they have also lost a grandmother as they have witnessed the feud between Vanessa and Sofia.
How Vanessa Bryant Has Moved On With Her Life
Vanessa will of course never move on from the devastating loss of her beloved husband and daughter, or the unforgivable feud between herself and her mother.
But Vanessa won't allow herself to let the bitter sting of her mother's betrayal destroy her.
Instead, Vanessa has continued to live her life for her children and to honor the family she's lost. She's also fought more silent battles, including filing a lawsuit in June 2021 against the helicopter company with the families of the seven other victims who died in the crash.
Vanessa has continued to honor the memory of her daughter and husband, and despite the falling out with her mother, Vanessa hasn't been alone.
As well as fan support, Vanessa can also count on the support of her closest friends, Ciara and La La Anthony. They have been by her side helping her, including taking Vanessa and the children on getaway trips, providing a much-needed escape and sense of "normality" for Vanessa and her children, whose lives have been turned upside down since the death of Kobe and Gianna.
Vanessa has also accepted the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame induction on behalf of her husband, giving a heartfelt speech and talking about how proud she was of him.
Despite the devastating loss and the grief she must feel, there is a sense of comfort that she hopefully gains in not just the love that the Bryant family share with one another, but the love of Kobe's fans and admirers who remember his talent and also admired him for who he was as a person.
Family is incredibly important to Vanessa, and no one can imagine the pain she must have felt like her relationship with her mother came apart just after the deaths of her husband and daughter.
But it is clear that Vanessa is a great mom and a strong person, as she continues to share Kobe and Gianna's legacy and show how proud she is of her beautiful children. She has shown both courage and strength that would make Kobe and Gianna unbelievably proud.