Artists mourn Kobe Bryant; fans flock to Staples Center on Grammy night

Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Actors, musicians and other artists took to social media Sunday to mourn the death of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.

Bryant, 41, and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were killed in a California helicopter crash, along with seven other people. He retired from playing professional basketball in 2016 after 20 years.

The athlete won an Oscar in 2018 for the short film "Dear Basketball," and his life was the subject of Spike Lee's 2009 documentary Kobe Doin' Work and the 2015 Showtime special Kobe Bryant's Muse.

Deadline.com said fans flocked to the Staples Center -- home of the Lakers -- Sunday to express their grief as organizers prepared the venue for the televised Grammy Awards ceremony, set for later in the day.

A moment of silence was held before the earliest awards were handed out.

"I have no words...All I have is real tears....This is beyond heartbreaking...#prayingforthebryantfamily #RIPGianna #RIPKobe," comedian Kevin Hart wrote on Instagram.

"This can't be real there's no way!!! My heart hurts," reality TV star Khloe Kardashian wrote on Twitter.

"I cannot believe this is real. My god. Oh my god," TV personality Chrissy Teigen tweeted.

"Downtown right now and nothing feels more unimportant than what we are doing today. This is absolutely terrible. Everyone is numb," Teigen added.

"Speechless... Praying for your soul and your family King! This (expletive) is surreal! Rest in Paradise Kobe!" actor Omar Epps posted on Instagram.

"To watch Kobe for hundreds of hours over the course his career, every highlight & triumph, every agony of defeat, to see such joy & discipline & talent & humanity, is to feel a part of his story in a deeply emotional way. Our family grieves for his," actor Sean Astin said.

"He outworked everyone and I was so happy that he could spend more time with his beautiful family. What an authentic generous soul. Gutted for his family and everyone in that crash. We are here for a finite amount of time, remember that and say I love u more please #KobeBryant," actor Jeremy Piven posted.

"Dude I'm in tears right now!! @kobebryant damn His daughter too omg I just don't know what to say! Everyone please pray for his family!! This is so crazy!" actress and comedian Leslie Jones tweeted.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Bryant family and friends, our Laker family, our Los Angeles community and fans around the world," the Staples Center posted.

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