Vanessa Bryant says Kobe would be hurt by her mother's $5 million lawsuit

2020 has been a tough year for Vanessa Bryant. She lost her husband, Kobe Bryant, and her daughter Gianna, in a helicopter crash in January. 

The year is also ending off on a bad note after her mother, Sofia Laine, filed a lawsuit against her. 

Sofia is demanding that her daughter supports her financially because she claims Kobe took care of her when he was alive and promised to do so for the rest of her life.  Kobe reportedly had a net worth of $600-million when he died. 

Sofia also claims she was a “longtime personal assistant and nanny” for the famous couple and wants to be paid for her efforts. 

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Vanessa has called her mother's lawsuit "absurd" and says the 63-year-old is trying to extort money from her. 

The former dancer says she has supported her mother for nearly 20 years. 

"We arranged for my mother to live in our nearby properties, at no cost to her because she had claimed that she didn't have any money to buy her own home after her divorce. My husband and I felt it was best for her not to live in our home. She watched our girls from time to time, just like most grandparents do. She did not take care of business issues or expenses,”  she wrote on Instagram. 

Vanessa added that her mother was never their personal assistant or nanny.

"I have always been a stay-at-home mother and my husband and I were our daughters' full-time caregivers."

The drama between the mother and daughter started shortly after Kobe and Gianna's passing. 

"Earlier this year, I was looking for a new home for her and, a week later, she went on television and gave an interview disparaging our family and making false accusations while living rent-free in a gated apartment complex...

"Even after that betrayal, I was willing to provide my mother with monthly support for the rest of her life and that wasn't good enough. She instead contacted me through intermediaries (contrary to what she claims, my phone number hasn't changed) and demanded $5 million, a house and a Mercedes SUV.  "

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Vanessa added that Kobe would be hurt by her mother's actions.

"This lawsuit is frivolous, disgraceful, and unimaginably hurtful. My husband never promised my mother anything, and he would be so disappointed in her behavior and lack of empathy."

Main image credit: Instagram/Kobe Bryant