Photo: Bobby Metelus/Getty Images

La La Anthony is opening up about her close relationship with Vanessa Bryant, whom she calls “family”.

In an interview with ET, the Puerto Rican actress and television personality talked about how her and Bryant are creating “life long bonds” between their children by having them spend quality time together. La La is mother to 13-year-old Kiyan Carmelo Anthony, while Bryant is mother to three daughters (Natalia, Bianka Bella, Capri Kobe).

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Anthony has previous documented the two families hanging out together on social media.

She appears to have been spending a lot of time with Vanessa Bryant since Kobe Bryant passed away in January. She even posted an adorable TikTok video of the two of them doing the “Don’t React Challenge” where they listen to old school hits and try not to dance or move to the music. Fans were overjoyed to see Vanessa smiling and laughing again.

lala anthony siblings
Screenshot: lala/Instagram

La La said that having her son spend time with Vanessa’s kids is “one of the most important parts” of their friendship. “They [the kids] look at themselves as cousins and they do a lot together,” she said. “Kiyan’s the oldest, but all the kids look up to Kiyan.” She went on to explain how Bryant’s kids are always calling Kiyan for advice and support.

La La got deep when she talked about how deeply the two women’s lives are intertwined.

“I’ve been a part of [Vanessa’s children’s] lives from before they were even thought of, so just to continue to be a part of their journey is amazing, to be Auntie La La and to always be there for them no matter what is an amazing thing and responsibility that I don’t take lightly,” she says.

She continued by saying, “That’s my family and that’s what it’s always gonna be. I’m always [going to have] their best interests at heart no matter what.”

This isn’t the first time La La has gotten candid about her relationship with Vanessa. Back in September, La La explained how much of an honor it is to be able to be part of Vanessa’s support system in the difficult months after her husband and her daughter’s deaths.

“You don’t dip out on your friends when it gets really hard,” she told ET. “And she’s going through something that is unimaginable, that I can’t even fathom what that feels like.”

“Just to be a friend and be there to make her laugh when she needs to, cry when she needs to, is a beautiful thing,” she continued. “But that’s what friends do for each other. I’m always going to be there for her and the girls and just want to see her just continue to be strong and amazing.”