Vanessa Bryant, the widow of Kobe Bryant, has published the names of LA County police officerswho she said shared graphic photos of the scene of her husband’s death in a helicopter crash last year.
The 38-year-old is suing the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for negligence and invasion of privacy.
“We will refrain from trying this case in the media,” the sheriff said in response.
Kobe Bryant died with his daughter and seven others in the crash.
On March 17, Vanessa Bryant posted on Instagram the names of four sheriff’s deputies.
She says they took graphic pictures of the nine people who died in the crash close to Calabasas, California, in January 2020.
She alleges that one of the officers shared with a bartender photos of Kobe Bryant’s body and the others distributed “gratuitous photos of the dead children, parents, and coaches”.
The Los Angeles Times reported in February 2020 that an internal police investigation found officers shared photos of victims’ remains.
Vanessa Bryant claims the pictures, including those of her 13-year-old daughter Gianna, were taken and shared “for no reason other than morbid gossip”.
Last week a judge rejected an attempt to stop publication of the officer’s names, allowing Vanessa Bryant to disclose them.
LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva responded on Twitter to Vanessa Bryant’s post, saying that the department would wait for a court to decide the outcome of the case.
The widow of Kobe Bryant alleges that at least eight officers took pictures of the crash site for their personal use, and claims that one took between 25 and 100 photos.
Last month, safety investigators said the helicopter pilot, Ara Zobayan, may have become disoriented in fog before the aircraft smashed into a hillside.
The NTSFB said the main cause of the crash was most likely the pilot’s decision to keep flying in inclement conditions “which resulted in the pilot’s spatial disorientation and loss of control”.
As well as Kobe Bryant, his daughter and the pilot, those killed included two of Gianna’s basketball teammates, their relatives and a coach. The group were on their way to a tournament in Thousand Oaks where Kobe Bryant had been set to coach.
Kobe Bryant has said he would love to represent the US at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The 37-year-old LA Lakers star, regarded as one of the greatest basketball players in history, announced this week he would retire at the end of the NBA season.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist has been hindered by injuries in recent seasons but said he would “love to play” in Rio if fit enough.
Photo Getty Images
“If my body can’t do it, there’s no sense doing it,” Kobe Bryant said.
The five-time NBA champion has scored 32,734 points during a 20-year career with the Lakers to rank third on the NBA’s all-time list.
Kobe Bryant, who won gold with the US team in 2008 and 2012, told ESPN Radio: “I would love nothing more than to be in an international environment and be around some of the other great athletes one more time.”
Should the Lakers fail to make the end-of-season play-offs, Kobe Bryant’s final game is set to be at home against Utah on April 13. The Olympics will be held four months later, between August 5 and 21.
Kobe Bryant is one of 34 players in the US men’s national team pool, from which only 12 can be selected for Rio.
Kobe Bryant has announced he will retire at the end of the NBA season.
The five-time NBA champion, widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players in history, has scored 32,683 points during a 20-year career with the LA Lakers to rank third on the NBA’s all-time list.
The 37-year-old two-time Olympic gold medalist has been hindered by injuries in recent seasons and has been below his best this year for the Lakers.
Kobe Bryant told the Players’ Tribune: “My body knows it’s time to say goodbye.”
He has averaged more than 25 points per game in his 1,293 NBA matches.
Kobe Bryant’s final game is set to be at home against Utah on April 13.
The Lakers have won just twice so far this season, with Kobe Bryant averaging 15.7 points per game.
Photo Getty Images
In a poem entitled Dear Basketball, Kobe Bryant announced “this season is all I have left to give”.
The Philadelphia-born player added: “You gave a six-year-old boy his Laker dream. And I’ll always love you for it. But I can’t love you obsessively for much longer.”
He ended the poem without hinting at what he might do next: “We both know, no matter what I do next, I’ll always be that kid, with the rolled up socks, garbage can in the corner, :05 seconds on the clock, ball in my hands.”
Kobe Bryant was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2008 and selected for the NBA All-Star team on 17 occasions.
Lakers coach Byron Scott said he thought Kobe Bryant would have played on for at least another season.
“It kind of shocked me when he told me,” said Byron Scott.
“I’m sad more than anything. Somebody I care about, have a lot of respect for… it’s always hard when greatness like Kobe decides to hang it up.
“For him to be able to go around to all these cities and them to be able to appreciate him for what he has accomplished is great.”
Lakers president Jeanie Buss added: “We’re all sad. This era of Lakers basketball has been one of the most fun, exciting, prosperous eras we could imagine.
“We’re in full support of him. But it’s still very sad.”
Vanessa Bryant has denied that she has been under the surgeon’s knife after reports suggested she had sought cosmetic help to stop philandering husband Kobe from straying.
Vanessa Bryant’s representatives have blasted the allegations as “100 per cent not true” and “ridiculous”.
During her appearance at the London Olympic Games, Vanessa Bryant, 30, set tongues wagging that she had undergone surgery after pictures of her looking rather different from her former self emerged.
A source told The National Enquirer that Vanessa Bryant was starting to feel “insecure” about her looks and “would do anything to keep Kobe happy”.
Not only had she made obvious changes to her hair, which once bared blonde highlights and is now raven black, but her skin tone, pout, brow and tip of the nose appeared to belong to someone else.
Vanessa Bryant denies having plastic surgery after reports claimed she had sought cosmetic help to stop philandering husband Kobe from straying
Plastic surgeon Dr. Anthony Youn offered his expertise to the US publication, saying: “Vanessa appears to have undergone some plastic surgery.
“Her nose is thin with what appears to be scars at the base of each nostril. In some people, this is a telltale sign of a nose job.”
The medical professional – who practices in Troy, Michigan – also stated that Vanessa Bryant’s lips look to have been plumped, “possibly from an injectable filler like Juvederm”.
Following Kobe Bryant’s rumored reputation of playing away from home, including an admission to one particular infidelity in 2003 and pictures of him shirtless with two women during a recent nightclub venture, Vanessa is said to be “obsessed” with her looks in a bid to stay young and youthful for her husband of 11 years.
A source told the Enquirer: “The sad thing is that Vanessa is wrecking her natural beauty.
“She started freaking out over a few crow’s feet, and the next thing you know she was getting a full facial makeover… she is extremely insecure.
“She’d do anything to keep Kobe happy.”
The on/off couple has had a somewhat turbulent romance over the years and was on the verge of divorce just two months ago.
But during the London Olympics, they appeared to have reconciled and were seen laughing in the stands during a swimming final with their six-year-old daughter Gianna.
However, Australian Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Rice was still forced to deny she was having a fling with Kobe Bryant after they were seen during a cycling event together.
Vanessa Bryant, wife of superstar basketball player Kobe Bryant, appears to be having second thoughts on going ahead with their divorce.
Vanessa Bryant, 29, has until Sunday to sign the documents to make her divorce from the philandering LA Lakers star final.
But according to reports, Vanessa Bryant just can’t bring herself to leave the father of her two children.
According to TMZ, Kobe Bryant, 33, and his ex-wife have been spending a lot of time together in mediation, working out the problems that caused Vanessa to file for divorce in the first place back on December 16.
“We’ve learned Kobe and Vanessa are trying to work out the issues that caused her to file for divorce back in December.
“They spend a lot of time together but he has not officially moved back in with her,” a source told TMZ.
Vanessa and Kobe Bryant at a hockey game in Los Angeles on April 16
California law gives couples a six-month “waiting period” after divorce proceedings are initiated before it can be finalized.
That means the waiting period expires Sunday and Vanessa Bryant would officially be free to divorce the NBA star Monday.
However, that is unlikely, the report said. There would be nothing to stop her from doing so at a later date, though.
Kobe Bryant married Vanessa in April 2001 in Dana Point, California, when he was 21 and she was 18. They have two daughters, Natalia and Gianna. The marriage became rocky soon after when Kobe was arrested for a sexual assault on a 19-year-old employee of an Eagle, Colorado hotel. The case was eventually dropped, but Kobe Bryant admitted he did have an adulterous sexual encounter with his accuser.
Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, is reportedly walking away from their ten year marriage with three of their properties.
Vanessa Bryant, 33, will get all of their mansions in the Newport Beach area of California, according to TMZ.
Kobe Bryant’s wife will secure $75million, which is said to be close to half of their total assets.
A source close to the couple told TMZ that the property settlement agreement has already been finalized.
Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, is reportedly walking away from their ten year marriage with three of their properties
Vanessa Bryant, who has two daughters with Kobe, now faces the tough decision of where to actually live as she continues her life as a single woman.
The mother-of-two will be able to choose from the estate that she was living in with Kobe Bryant before she filed for divorce, the estate her mother is currently living in, and also the new estate that has been under construction for two years and has just recently been completed.
Vanessa Bryant filed for divorce from the NBA superstar husband last month, citing “irreconcilable differences”.
When the news broke, TMZ also reported that the couple had no pre-nuptial agreement, and that Vanessa Bryant had requested spousal support.
Vanessa and Kobe Bryant met when she was just 18 and she was working as a backing dancer in a studio where he was recording, though that material was never released to the public.
Vanessa Bryant is also said to be asking for joint custody of their two daughters – eight-year-old Natalia and five-year-old Gianna.
She is also asking that Kobe Bryant get visitation rights, which means she wants the kids in her care most of the time.
Vanessa Bryant is being represented by Laura Wasser and attorney Samantha Klein, whose clients include Britney Spears, Angelina Jolie, Maria Shriver and Kim Kardashian.
Basketball star Kobe Bryant was almost served with divorce papers four years ago it has emerged.
Kobe Bryant’s estranged wife Vanessa saw divorce lawyers after being pushed to the limit by the NBA legend’s antics, according to RadarOnline.
But Vanessa Bryant had a change of heart after he promised to change his ways and attend marriage counseling.
A source close to them said: “Vanessa almost threw in the towel four years ago. “Kobe has always had a slew of girlfriends, and the cheating was almost blatant.
“Vanessa had consulted with a divorce attorney, not Laura Wasser, who she has hired to represent her now. Kobe promised Vanessa he would stop cheating, and the two went to marriage counseling.
“Kobe did seem like a devoted husband, and Vanessa decided not to go through with filing at that time.”
Vanessa Bryant filed for divorce from Los Angeles Lakers star citing “irreconcilable differences”
Vanessa Bryant, 29, even stood by Los Angeles Lakers star when he was accused of sexually assaulting a worker at a hotel in Colorado.
Kobe Bryant, 33, admitted having sexual relations with 19-year old hotel employee Katelyn Faber, but denied assault.
The case was dropped by prosecutors after she refused to testify in the trial, but a separate civil lawsuit was eventually settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.
However, Vanessa Bryant decided to call time on their marriage of almost 11 years after growing tired of his philandering, despite hoping they could work things out for the sake of their two daughters.
The source said: “Vanessa wanted to stay together for the children. Vanessa stood by Kobe during his darkest hour, and she believed him when he said there would be no more women.
“Vanessa began to get suspicious again about 16 months ago about Kobe cheating on her, he knew that if he wasn’t faithful, she would leave him. Vanessa had no other choice.”
The revelation follows claims Kobe Bryant was growing close to one of Kim Kardashian’s best friends, Carla DiBello.
Several websites claimed Carla DiBello, 27, has been on close terms with Kobe Bryant for the last couple of years, according to Radar Online.
Some note that Carla DiBello has been spotted courtside at Lakers games.
Carla DiBello is one of Kim Kardashian’s closest friends, and is also a producer on Keeping Up With The Kardashians and Kourtney & Kim Take New York.
She travels around the world with the reality behemoth, and most recently was by her side during Kim Kardashian’s trip to Dubai.
Carla DiBello was director of strategic relations for SBE Group which owns a number of exclusive hotels and clubs in Hollywood.
She was also Steve Wynn’s assistant at his luxury hotel casino of the same name in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, TMZ are reporting that Kobe Bryant is worth much less than the $400 million that was being suggested in some quarters, with his net worth instead being around $150 million.
Still a small fortune, but with a divorce settlement looming, every dollar will count as Kobe Bryant prepares to negotiate spousal and child support.
Vanessa Bryant filed for divorce from Los Angeles Lakers star citing “irreconcilable differences”.
TMZ further claims that she has caught Kobe Bryant with “multiple women” over the years – but the latest affair was the one that broke the camel’s back.
Sources did not tell the website how Vanessa Bryant found out about his alleged fling with Carla DiBello – but apparently it was through text messages.
Vanessa Bryant has been married to the LA Lakers player for ten years.
They have no pre-nuptial agreement, according to TMZ, so Vanessa Bryant will be entitled to substantial monies and has requested spousal support.
It is said that Kobe Bryant has already moved out of the mansion in Orange County that the couple once shared.
According to TMZ, Kobe Bryant purchased the abode ten years ago, but his wife will get the home as part of the couple’s divorce settlement.
They met when Vanessa was just 18, when she was working as a backing dancer in a studio where he was recording, though that material was never released to the public.
According to the legal documents obtained by TMZ, Vanessa Bryant is asking for joint custody of their two daughters – eight-year-old Natalia and five-year-old Gianna.
But she is asking that Kobe Bryant get visitation rights, which means she wants the kids in her care most of the time.
Vanessa Bryant is being represented by Laura Wasser and attorney Samantha Klein, whose clients include Britney Spears, Angelina Jolie, Maria Shriver and Kim Kardashian.
Kobe Bryant’s wife has filed for divorce from LA Lakers star yesterday citing “irreconcilable differences”.
Vanessa Bryant, 29 , who stuck by Kobe, 33, after he was charged with sexually assaulting a Colorado woman in 2003 – has been married to the basketball star for ten years.
TMZ reports that the couple has no pre-nuptial agreement, so Vanessa Bryant will be entitled to substantial monies, and has requested spousal support.
Vanessa and Kobe Bryant met when she was just 19, and he 23, and she was working as a backing dancer in a studio where he was recording.
TMZ reports that according to the legal documents, Vanessa Bryant is asking for joint custody of their two daughters – Natalia, 8, and Gianna, 5.
However, the mother is asking that Kobe Bryant get visitation rights, which means she wants the kids in her care most of the time.
Vanessa and Kobe Bryant met when she was just 19, and he 23, and she was working as a backing dancer in a studio where he was recording
Vanessa Bryant is being represented by Wasser and attorney Samantha Klein, her clients include Britney Spears, Angelina Jolie, Maria Shriver and Kim Kardashian.
Kobe Bryant went to the Jay-Z concert Tuesday night in Los Angeles without his wife, and he looked miserable.
She signed the divorce petition on December 1 and Kobe Bryant signed his response on December 7.
Kobe Bryant gave her a $4 million diamond ring after the 2003 scandal, which she will be able to keep.
At the time, they released a joint statement saying they have “resolved all issues” privately, with the assistance of counsel.
In 2003, hotel employee Katelyn Faber of The Lodge and Spa at Cordillera in Eagle County said Kobe Bryant raped her after he checked into the establishment to await knee surgery.
Kobe Bryant admitted an adulterous sexual encounter with his accuser, but denied her sexual assault allegation.
In September 2004, the assault case was dropped by prosecutors after Katelyn Faber refused to testify in the trial.
Afterward, Kobe Bryant agreed to apologize to Katelyn Faber for the incident, including his public mea culpa: “Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did. After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter.”
Katelyn Faber filed a separate civil lawsuit against Kobe Bryant, which the two sides ultimately settled with the specific terms of the settlement being undisclosed to the public.
This website has updated its privacy policy in compliance with EU GDPR 2016/679. Please read this to review the updates about which personal data we collect on our site. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our updated policy. AcceptRejectRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
