stobies pizza

A pizzeria in Canada was giving away free slices to anyone named Kobe or Gianna

A beloved pizza joint in London, Ontario honoured basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna in a very unique way after their tragic deaths in a helicopter crash earlier this week.

Stobie's Pizza hosts a daily promotion offering free slices to anyone who has one of two random names that they put on their chalkboard that day.

To commemorate Kobe and Gianna, anyone with either of their names was able to grab a free slice on January 27, the day following their accident that sent shockwaves through the sports world and beyond.

Though many were supportive of the sweet gesture, others found it to be too soon or somehow in poor taste.

"I think it's really cool to honour them like this," one user commented on the pizzeria's Instagram post of the board, while others called it a "marketing ploy."

"Chill, they're literally giving away FREE pizza, they're not profiting from it," another pointed out.

Still, the negative response was enough that Stobie's felt the need to issue a formal apology to clarify their motives.

We’re sorry to those that were offended.

A post shared by Stobie's Pizza (@stobiespizza) on

"Over the past 6 years of doing the names of the day we have used the board as our way of honouring and showing respect to mothers, fathers, veterans, members of our community, as well as those who've passed, celebrity or not," the statement read. "Our intent was pure of heart and meant only to honour them."

The following day, they paid homage to the rest of the victims of the crash, adding John, Kerri, Alyssa, Sarah, Payton, Christina and Ara to the board — a move that many called "beautiful" and "amazing."


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