What kind of sensible person would feel compelled to call Kobe Bryant a rapist and trash his legacy in the hours after the devastating helicopter crash that left the NBA legend and his daughter, Gianna, dead? Unsurprisingly, the answer to that question is staff reporters at CNN and the Washington Post, among other media outlets.
Bryant and his daughter were on their way to a travel basketball game. The victims in the crash also included another player and a parent. But that didn't stop the Washington Post's Felicia Somnez from sending a controversial tweet reminding the world about Bryant's "disturbing" rape case. The tweet was deleted, but a screenshot was preserved and published by the Daily Mail.
Sonmez said she received death threats after posting the tweet, and added that she was inundated with more than 10,000 harassing and insulting messages in the wake of her tweet.
We find it difficult to believe that she didn't anticipate this reaction. And unfortunately for her, this play for sympathy in the aftermath has decidedly backfired.
According to the Mail, Sonmez, a political reporter at WaPo, has been suspended from her position.
In response to Sonmez's claims that she was merely remembering Bryant's legacy "in totality," one twitter user cut right to the heart of why her tweet infuriated thousands of people.
The backlash was just as intense after CNN's Nathan McDermott tweeted about the "very credible rape allegation" made against Bryant, neglecting to mention that the charges were dropped and the victim admitted she went on to have sex with another man less than a day after the incident with Bryant.
Nathan McDermott ✔ @natemcdermott
Yes Kobe Bryant was one of the greatest basketball players of all time, but he’s also faced a very credible rape accusation where the woman was choked and submitted to a rape-kit test which found injuries “not consistent with consensual sex.”https://www.thedailybeast.com/kobe-bryants-disturbing-rape-case-the-dna-evidence-the-accusers-story-and-the-half-confession …
Nathan McDermott ✔ @natemcdermott
Replying to @natemcdermott
Think whatever you want about him, but if you think this is immaterial and shouldn’t be talked about in the aftermath of his death, well, I think you’re wrong.
Even reporters with obscure sports media organizations managed to incite a massive backlash (and boost their own profile) with their critical Kobe tweets. One reporter with College Hockey News decried the "sick" people on twitter for inundating her with insults after she had the "audacity" to suggest that "sexual assault victims deserve compassion too" in the hours after the crash.
#EvanRachelWould ✔ @evanrachelwood
What has happened is tragic. I am heartbroken for Kobe’s family. He was a sports hero. He was also a rapist.
And all of these truths can exist simultaneously.