For many, the legacy of Kobe Bryant is cemented: He was an excellent basketball player who changed the game and will be remembered long after his tragic death in 2020 alongside his daughter Gianna.
But some still carry misplaced criticisms about Bryant’s cultural significance—and now they are being directed at his widow, Vanessa Bryant.
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In a recent podcast interview with Joe Budden on the “Joe Budden Podcast,” “Dr. Umar” Johnson seemed to criticize Vanessa by claiming that she has not done “any good” for the Black community with “Kobe Bryant’s money.”
During the discussion, Dr. Umar asked, “Kobe Bryant died, Vanessa inherited his wealth, and guess what… Is Vanessa Bryant using any of that Black man’s money to do any good in the Black community?”
Listen to the entire clip below:
As Dr. Umar’s comments began to circulate around Black Twitter (X), many did not let him get away with trying to count Vanessa’s money.
One social user wrote, “Vanessa Bryant woke up one morning and never saw her husband and daughter again, and she is still (seemingly) functioning.”
They continued, “If that woman puts all of Kobe’s money in a f***in tissue box and wipes her tears with it every day, she deserves to do that.”
Many piled on support for Vanessa, disparaging Dr. Umar for his comments and bucking the idea that she is somehow responsible for saving Black people.
“PSA: It is not Vanessa Bryant’s job to save black folks,” wrote another social media user.
Others argued that Vanessa is already doing what she is supposed to do by “keeping his deals going,” showing up to basketball games and keeping her late husband’s legacy and name alive.
One user posted, “Vanessa Bryant has broken her back to make sure Kobe’s legacy stays alive, showing up to basketball games, honoring him, keeping his name alive, keeping his deals going, etc all while grieving losing Kobe and her daughter and still having to be a mother to the other 3... keep her name out your f****ing mouths omg.”
Some went straight for Dr. Umar’s neck, saying he is worried about the wrong thing when he has a murky relationship with the Black community.
What do you think? Was Dr. Umar out of line with his comments about Vanessa?
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