Vanessa Bryant has made a heartfelt plea on social media ahead of the first anniversary of the deaths of her husband Kobe and their daughter Gianna.
The Lakers star and Gianna – who was affectionately known as Gigi – were killed in a helicopter crash on 26 January last year.
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Vanessa has now asked that the media and those who wish to pay tribute to Kobe and Gigi do not use footage of the helicopter or crash site.
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She penned: "Dear media, please be considerate when airing or posting remembrance footage. We ask that you do not air photos of the wreckage, helicopter in the air or accident scene. We do NOT want to see it. Our year has been traumatic enough.
"You have thousands of photos and videos you can show beside footage of 1/26/20. We hope videos of remembrance are done in a classy and tasteful manner that is respectful of all our losses. Thank you."
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© Photo: InstagramVanessa shared this photo of Kobe and Gigi on Instagram
Vanessa also captioned the screenshot: "I want to thank everyone that has handled their media coverage respectfully.
"To everyone else, please reconsider your 'news story' and look at your footage through the eyes of their children, parents, spouse, siblings and family. Celebrate their lives, not the day they lost them. In preparation of 1/26."
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Nine people, including Kobe and Gianna, lost their lives when the helicopter they were travelling in crashed in Calabasas, Los Angeles, on 26 January last year.
© Photo: InstagramKobe was a doting dad to his four daughters
A public memorial service for Kobe and Gianna was held at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles on 24 February, where Vanessa bravely gave a heartbreaking account of a message Kobe had sent her a few weeks before he died.
In it, she said he "mentioned how he wanted to spend time together. Just the two of us without our kids, because I'm his best friend first.
"We never got the chance to do it. We were busy taking care of our girls and just doing our regular, everyday responsibilities. But I'm thankful I have that recent text. It means so much to me."
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