Hollywood was in mourning this week as A-listers gathered at the memorial of basketball star Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi.
Beyonce made a beautiful gesture as she performed at the service at Staples Centre, the home of the Los Angeles Lakers where Kobe played for a staggering 20 seasons.
The singer, 38, changed the lyrics of her song XO in order to avoid triggering painful memories and emotions for mourners in attendance at the special event.
Basketball legend Kobe, 41, and his 13-year-old daughter were tragically killed alongside nine others in a helicopter crash in Calabasas last month.
GONE: Kobe and daughter
And as Beyonce belted out the track, which was said to be NBA star Kobe’s favourite song, she swapped the lyrics “crashing into you” for “laughing into you”.
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This was Kobe’s favorite song😢💜 #beyonce #beyoncé #beyhive #kobe #kobebryant #explorepage
A post shared by Beyoncé Fanpage(@beyxknowless) on Feb 26, 2020 at 1:31am PST
Beyonce also altered the lyrics “You kill me boy XO” to “Just kiss me boy XO”.
Queen Bey was one of a number of performers and speakers to take to the stage at the sold-out service.
Tickets for the memorial went on sale for $224 (R3400) and more than 88 000 people applied for tickets to the venue with a 20 000 capacity.
All proceeds from the service will go to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, established following the crash.
Kobe’s fellow basketball legends Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James paid their respects, along with a host of other celebrities.
WEPT: Michael Jordan. Picture: Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
Kim Kardashian, Kanye West , Kris Jenner and Khloe were also in attendance.
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Farewell. 🙏🏾 #kobebryant #gigibryant #kanyewest
A post shared by Kanye West(@kanyew.est) on Feb 24, 2020 at 6:11pm PST
Kanye performed a tribute rap as he belted out: “I was driving home / They was leaving your jersey on the freeway. And I just broke down, broke down, broke down.”
Jennifer Lopez, who cried snot en trane, was joined by her fiancé Alex Rodriguez.
SNOT EN TRANE: J.Lo
Kobe’s widow Vanessa, 37, had everyone in tears with her tribute to her “soulmate”.
“He was my sweet husband, and the beautiful father of our children. He was mine. He was my everything. Kobe and I have been together since I was 17 and a half years old. I was his first girlfriend, his first love, his wife, his best friend. He was the most amazing husband.”