Kobe Was The Ultimate #GirlDad And You Probably Aren’t
The adored relationship between the late, great Kobe Bryant and his protégé daughter Gianna catapulted all sorts of conversations surrounding father-daughter relationships. In the wake of this tragic event, dads took to the Internet to express their undying love and admiration for their daughters.
During these last few weeks, dealing with the grief of a global icon and hero to so many of us, I couldn’t piece together my thoughts let alone well enough to critique the “new” movement and coined phrase #GirlDad. But I’m about ready…
WHAT ON GOD’S GREEN EARTH IS A #GIRLDAD AND (if I choose to riddle with the supposed definition) WHY DID IT TAKE THE TRAGIC PASSING OF A MAN WHO HAS ALWAYS OUTWARDLY LOVED HIS DAUGHTER(S) TO SPARK THIS RUBBISH?
The Ultimate #GirlDad
Kobe shared moments where Gianna vowed to carry on the legacy of the Bryant name, despite not having a biological son and the joy he had in coaching Gianna’s team (and raising his other daughters) in his retirement up until his final moments on earth. So, I understand the ideal behind #GirlDad was birthed from genuine positivity, love, and authenticity of an earnest man who put action behind his words.
The Rest Of You…#SitDown
However, a questionable amount of men, retweeting and creating picture collages to either commemorate Kobe’s legacy or as a way to feel included, need to keep their wasteful words off the internet and show and prove in their daughters' lives. A number of you hate women in real life and only express respect and honor towards them if the exchange is transactional or if said women are family members. You should also sit down, if you’ve spent your entire life mistreating women then miraculously learned the value of the divine feminine once you had a daughter. Precious children do not serve as “wake up calls” to misogynistic men, who even after having daughters continue to treat their children’s mothers like disposable waste or punching bags.
Children are a blessing regardless of what gender they chose to perform or what sex they are! But let’s not pretend those viral gender reveal videos where men storm off because the confetti wasn’t ‘baby boy blue’ are a figment of our imagination. Or, ignore the number of times you’ve heard men utter the phrase, “I don’t want a daughter” for whatever bogus, disgusting, patriarchal reasons they’ve used to justify their nonsense. Not to mention y’all complaining about paying for dates YOU asked women on, and threatening to physically abuse women who speak out, about or against sexual assault.
YOU ARE NOT KOBE (for more reasons than one)
…but if his love for his family inspires you to want to be more like him then so be it! Just quit lying on the internet - its irritating.
Rest In Perfect Peace To Kobe, Gianna and all victims of this horrific event. Your legacy lives on!
