Gizelle Bryant is a reality TV star, entrepreneur, philanthropist and former model who rose to fame as one of the cast members of The Real Housewives of Potomac. She is known for her beauty, charisma, and drama-filled personal life. But is she related to the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant? Here is the truth behind the rumor.
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Who is Gizelle Bryant?
Gizelle Bryant was born on September 9, 1970, in Washington, D.C., to a prominent political family. Her father, Curtis Graves, was the first African-American representative from Texas in the House of Representatives in the 1960s. He was also active in the civil rights movement and worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Gizelle graduated from Hampton University with a degree in marketing and joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. She married Jamal Harrison Bryant, a megachurch pastor and activist, in 2002 and became the first lady of his church, Empowerment Temple AME Church in Baltimore. They had three daughters together: Grace, Angel, and Adore.
However, their marriage ended in divorce after seven years due to Jamal’s infidelity. Gizelle moved back to Potomac with her daughters and started a new chapter in her life. She joined The Real Housewives of Potomac in 2016 and became one of the most popular and controversial stars of the show.
She also launched her own cosmetics line, EveryHue Beauty, which caters to women of color. She is also a philanthropist who supports various causes, such as Birmingham City Council and Black Lives Matter. She has a podcast with her best friend and co-star Robyn Dixon called Reasonably Shady.
Who is Kobe Bryant?
Kobe Bryant was one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He played for the Los Angeles Lakers for 20 seasons and won five NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVP awards, one NBA MVP award, 18 All-Star selections, and numerous other accolades. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential athletes and cultural icons of his generation.
Kobe was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Joe Bryant, a former NBA player, and Pamela Cox Bryant. He had two older sisters: Sharia and Shaya. He spent part of his childhood in Italy, where his father played professional basketball. He learned to speak Italian fluently and developed a passion for soccer.
He returned to the U.S. when he was 13 and attended Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania. He became a basketball prodigy and skipped college to enter the NBA draft in 1996. He was selected by the Charlotte Hornets but was traded to the Lakers on draft day.
He married Vanessa Laine in 2001 and had four daughters with her: Natalia, Gianna, Bianka, and Capri. He retired from basketball in 2016 and focused on his family and business ventures. He won an Oscar for his animated short film Dear Basketball in 2018.
He tragically died in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020, along with his daughter Gianna and seven other people. He was 41 years old.
Despite sharing the same last name and being prominent figures in their respective fields, Gizelle Bryant and Kobe Bryant are not related. They have no blood or marital connection whatsoever.
According to Marathi.tv, “Despite their similar last names, the two are not related.” This is confirmed by TVovermind.com, which states that “Gizelle comes from a bright civil rights legacy” while “Kobe was born into a basketball family.”
The rumor that they are related may have stemmed from their common surname or their involvement in philanthropic causes. However, there is no evidence to support this claim.
Therefore, the answer to the question “Is Gizelle Bryant related to Kobe Bryant?” is no.
Conclusion
Gizelle Bryant and Kobe Bryant are both successful and influential people who have made their mark on society. However, they are not related by blood or marriage. They have different backgrounds, origins, and careers. They only share a common surname that may have sparked some curiosity among fans and media outlets.
However, they have nothing else in common besides their last name. They are not cousins, siblings, or distant relatives. They are simply two individuals who happen to have the same last name.
