How a SoCal Company is Honoring the MVP of Girl Dads
In the days after a helicopter crash killed nine people, including Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna, the Girl Dad phenomenon caught on with athletes, celebrities and other fathers who shared their stories
By Kim Tobin and Jonathan Lloyd ••
NBC Universal, Inc.
After retirement, Kobe Bryant became known as a Girl Dad. Kim Tobin reports for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Monday Feb. 24, 2020.
Kobe Bryant was the 2008 NBA MVP and a two-time NBA Finals MVP during this 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
But to Vanessa Bryant and his four daughters, he was the MVP of Girl Dads.
"Kobe was the MVP of Girl Dads, or MVD," Bryant said during her 20-minute tribute to her husband and daughter Gianna Monday at Staples Center. "He never left the toilet seat up. He always told the girls how beautiful and smart they are. He taught them how to be brave and how to keep pushing forward when things get tough."
He always told the girls how beautiful and smart they are. He taught them how to be brave and how to keep pushing forward when things get tough.
Vanessa Bryant
The term became a hashtag that achieved viral status. In the days after the helicopter crash that killed Bryant and 13-year-old Gianna, #GirlDad caught on with other fathers after an ESPN anchor shared a story about Bryant calling himself a Girl Dad as he explained his love for his daughters.
"A Girl Dad is, obviously, a dad who has a daughter, but I think it's deeper than that," the Dodgers' Mookie Betts told ESPN. "Your love for her is just so strong, you just get all mushy inside when you see her.
Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images
Singer, Beyonce performs during the Kobe Bryant Memorial Service on Feb. 24, 2020 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California.
Jimmy Kimmel speaks during a celebration of life for Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images
Kobe Bryant’s wife Vanessa Bryant speaks during the “Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant” service at Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles on February 24, 2020. – Kobe Bryant, 41, and 13-year-old Gianna were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in the rugged hills west of Los Angeles on January 26. (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
Vanessa Bryant is helped off the stage by former NBA player Michael Jordan after speaking during a celebration of life for her husband Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Former Los Angeles Lakers watch during a celebration of life for Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Kobe Bryant’s parents Joe and Pam Bryant arrive for a celebration of life for Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 24: Diana Taurasi speaks during The Celebration of Life for Kobe & Gianna Bryant at Staples Center on February 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 24: Mark Parker attends The Celebration of Life for Kobe & Gianna Bryant at Staples Center on February 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
US basketball executive Rob Pelinka speaks during the “Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant” service at Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles on February 24, 2020. – Kobe Bryant, 41, and 13-year-old Gianna were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in the rugged hills west of Los Angeles on January 26. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
US musician Alicia Keys performs during the “Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant” service at Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles on February 24, 2020. – Kobe Bryant, 41, and 13-year-old Gianna were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in the rugged hills west of Los Angeles on January 26. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Kyrie Irving, Stephen Curry and others during The Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant at Staples Center on Feb. 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.
FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images
US-Italian basketball coach Geno Auriemma speaks during the “Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant” service at Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles on February 24, 2020. – Kobe Bryant, 41, and 13-year-old Gianna were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in the rugged hills west of Los Angeles on January 26. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
Retired US basketball player Michael Jordan cries as he speaks during the “Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant” service at Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles on February 24, 2020. – Kobe Bryant, 41, and 13-year-old Gianna were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in the rugged hills west of Los Angeles on January 26. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
Retired US basketball player Shaquille O’Neal speaks during the “Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant” service at Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles on February 24, 2020. – Kobe Bryant, 41, and 13-year-old Gianna were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in the rugged hills west of Los Angeles on January 26. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
Christina Aguilera performs during a celebration of life for Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, in Los Angeles.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 24: Jerry West and Steve Ballmer attend The Celebration of Life for Kobe & Gianna Bryant at Staples Center on February 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
LL Cool J attends The Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant at Staples Center on Feb. 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez depart after The Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant at Staples Center on Feb. 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.
"Kobe impacted me as a Girl Dad by just showing that girls can do the same thing that guys can do. They can have the same mindset. I'm sure that came from having all girls."
For Meri Barnes, that deep father-daughter bond that now had a hashtag was familiar. Barnes, whose father coached her youth basketball and softball teams, is the founder of Shop Forward, a Southern California clothing and accessories company that raises money for causes around the world.
"We were devastated, but also we wanted to help in some way," Barnes said. "So a few days after (the helicopter crash), we decided it was time to launch our Girl Dad t-shirts."
Proceeds from the sale of Girl Dad shirts go to the Mamba on Three Fund to support families of the nine people killed in the January helicopter crash in the hills above Calabasas. The passengers were traveling from Orange County to Newbury Park for a girls basketball tournament at the Mamba Sports Academy.
"We're huge fans of Kobe the basketball player, but post-retirement we knew him as Girl Dad," Barnes said.
More than 5,000 orders for Girl Dad shirts were placed in the 2 1/2 weeks since they were first printed. The company found in 2014 has supported other organizations, such as St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the American Red Cross and Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Barnes said Girl Dad phenonmenon has provided a bright ray of light through the darkness of the devastating helicopter disaster.
"We've just been overwhelmed by the support," Barnes said. "It makes me so proud of the community.
"I just hope that every single person that bought a shirt or gave a shirt wears it proudly knowing that they're helping to make a difference in these people's lives. It's just been cool, even in the midst of tragedy, to see Girl Dads celebrated so much."
"I would have 5 more girls if I could. I'm a girl dad."@elleduncanESPN's story about how much Kobe loved his daughters is something special. pic.twitter.com/1KJx17QRjY
