By: Amanda Anderson-Niles
Most will agree that Trayvon Martin’s story brought many in the African-American community together, as many united to protest the Stand Your Ground Law and stand behind the slain teen’s parents, but it appears LA Lakers star Kobe Bryant thinks the black community was too quick to side with Martin.
In a recent interview with The New Yorker, when Kobe was asked how he felt about the Miami Heat team dressing up in hoodies to pay respect to Trayvon in a very popular photo that made rounds on social media, his answer has caused lots of controversy. Kobe says:
“I won’t react to something just because I’m supposed to, because I’m an African-American,” he said. “That argument doesn’t make any sense to me. So we want to advance as a society and a culture, but, say, if something happens to an African-American we immediately come to his defense? Yet you want to talk about how far we’ve progressed as a society? Well, we’ve progressed as a society, then don’t jump to somebody’s defense just because they’re African-American. You sit and you listen to the facts just like you would in any other situation, right? So I won’t assert myself.”
Kobe quickly became a target of backlash when his comments began to make headlines, so he tweeted the following:
This is why so many people don’t like Kobe.
You are absolutely right Nessa, he is too arrogant. He sound so damn stupid!! I WAS NEVER EVER A KOBE FAN!!
Get this self hating bastard out of here.
I understand the point he was trying to make, but he shouldn’t have used Trayvon’s situation as an example. Tryavon’s story was one of injustice and that’s why people black and white were outraged about what happened to him. Smh.
You wrote this quite perfectly. I agree 100%.
His tweet sounds very different from what he said in the interview. I’m just saying…
He’s entitled to his opinion, no matter how wrong it may be.
Spoken like a true sell out. Next.
Thank you.
Kobe has always been a sell out!! If he turned his back on his own parents what should we really expect from him ????
LeBron > Kobe
I thought Kobe said before that he believed Trayvon Martin didn’t get justice. The truth of the matter is Trayvon’s death should not have ever happened. And George Zimmerman has proven on numerous occasions that he’s not some innocent person that had good intentions that night. He’s been in trouble several time since for getting violent with other people. So what facts is Kobe talking about exactly?
Kobe please have a seat. What you said in that interview is how you really feel. So stand by it.
Kobe sounds real misinformed. I understand what he was trying to say, but Trayvon’s murder was the inappropriate example to use here.
Exactly!
This is one of those times I wish Kobe would just shut up.
Kobe need to be slap for that vacuous opinion. I bet this is his B**** Eh hem… I mean wife opinion.
Now people wanted to call Lil Boosie’s fans c–ns because they were happy about him being released from prison, but here’s the real c–n right here.
Kobe, I love your game and you are on my NBA Mt. Rushmore for how you played the game but never, ever… Ever, ever, ever speak on social issues again!
Bye Felicia.
He sounds so ignorant.
This is why I stan for LeBron so damn hard! LeBron is a real person and a real black man! He’s not ashamed of his race and he loves his people! Kobe is nothing but an embarrassment!
Kobe irks my damn nerves.
Lol hes right though…….