The late great Kobe Bryant’s legacy is complicated. For sports fans, he was a legend who changed how people looked at work ethic, determination and mentality. However, a sexual assault victim wouldn’t refer to Bryant so kindly. His 2003 rape case is certainly the biggest blemish of his career, and the lawsuit’s details are still heavily debated.
Bryant’s sexual assault case was against a 19-year-old employee of The Lodge and Spa at Cordillera, a hotel in Edwards, Colorado. He denied assaulting the woman and maintained that the sexual encounter was consensual.
The victim refused to testify, the criminal charges were dropped and the subsequent civil suit was settled out of court. Bryant publicly apologized to the 19-year-old and her family while denying the allegations. Hence, the question of Bryant’s guilt has always been up in the air.
Even though the case was settled legally, Kobe Bryant had to deal with the consequences at home. He wasn’t single when the incident took place but was married to his wife, Vanessa. They tied the knot in 2001 and such a case would normally ruin marriages, but the couple worked through it. In an interview with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson on All the Smoke, the Black Mamba spoke about repairing his relationship with his wife. He said:
“Commitment and competitiveness of ‘We’re going to succeed’…That’s all the beauty of it: having the persistence and determination to work through things — very, very tough things — and we’ve been able to do that.
As reported by People Magazine, the LA Lakers legend stated that the determination to make his marriage work was crucial. The couple had to fight all odds to repair and rebuild their relationship, including giving each other space
Kobe Bryant of the LA Lakers with his wife Vanesa Bryant.
The sexual assault case was settled in 2003 but the aftermath lasted for years. The couple, especially Kobe Bryant, admitted to working through issues and resolving their disputes and it included solitary time when dealing with emotional moments. Apparently, the couple hit a low moment in 2011 when Vanessa Bryant filed for divorce.
According to a report by People Magazine, she cited “irreconcilable differences,” while seeking spousal and child support. She asked for shared custody of their two daughters at the time – Gianna and Natalia.
Kobe’s divorce could cost him a quarter of a billion dollars. 180mil up front + ~13M (33% kobe’s income)/yr for next 5 year
After a sexual assault case was filed against him in 2003, Kobe Bryant said in a press conference in July of that year:
“I sit here in front of you guys, furious at myself, disgusted at myself for making the mistake of adultery. And I love my wife with all my heart.”
The divorce was clearly never finalized and the couple shared life until Bryant’s untimely death in January 2020.
