In a heartfelt plea to the basketball community, Vanessa Bryant has taken to Instagram, urging fans to sign a petition to save a cherished mural depicting the late Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna Bryant.
The mural, which has become an iconic symbol of inspiration and unity, is under threat of removal due to a request from the gym’s landlord. As the September 30 deadline looms, the owner of Hardcore Fitness, Cecilia Moran, is fighting to preserve this powerful tribute.
Situated in downtown Los Angeles, Hardcore Fitness proudly displays the mural on the exterior wall of the gym. Painted shortly after the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Kobe, Gianna, and seven others in January 2020.
Vanessa Bryant wants our help to keep this mural of Kobe and Gianna 🙏
Spread the word !
Link here: https://t.co/CsqpWmYerv pic.twitter.com/hRbXSmXrbx
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 16, 2023
The mural depicts the father-daughter duo with angel wings and halo-like glows around their heads. This touching artwork not only honors NBA star and Gigi but has also become a symbol of hope during challenging times, particularly amidst the pandemic.
“I’m reaching out to the members of the community, the Lakers, the mayor of LA, Vanessa Bryant, to all of those Lakers die-hards to not leave me alone,” said Moran. “I’m standing in the middle. I know I may get in trouble for raising my voice, but I’m going to stand up for what I believe”.
Moran received an email from her landlord, setting a strict deadline for the mural’s removal. While attempts were made to reach out to the property landlord for comment, there has been no response as of yet.
Vanessa Bryant urges fans to sign the petition
The mural not only captures the essence of Kobe Bryant’s legacy but also holds a special place in the hearts of the Lakers fans worldwide. Located just blocks away from the Crypto.com Arena where Kobe played a remarkable 20 seasons and secured five NBA titles.
It serves as a constant reminder of his enduring influence. Cecilia Moran, an immigrant who pursued her American dream in Los Angeles, invested her heart and soul into Hardcore Fitness.
Vanessa shared the link to the petition on her Instagram story and urged the fans to sign up for it so that the mural can be saved by collective efforts. Moran’s attempt at saving the mural is being backed up by fans all around the world.
Moran opened the gym and decided to adorn its wall with a beautiful mural as a tribute to Kobe and Gigi. Both of whom resonated deeply with her. Palsino, who painted the mural over three years ago, expressed his support for preserving the artwork.
“You gotta put some sense into it, man, and think about it and what it really means to L.A.”. Furthermore, He believes it’s essential to consider its profound significance to Los Angeles. As it has become a landmark drawing visitors from all over the world.
The artist continued, “So it’s good for him, his property, and every party in this. I don’t see much sense in taking it down for advertisement“. The news of the mural’s potential removal has sparked a wave of support from fans and the community. A change.org petition to save the mural has garnered over 35K signatures, indicating the mural’s significance to many.
