A Washington state high school principal has apologized after implying that former NBA superstar Kobe Bryant deserved to die. Bryant, 41, was killed in a helicopter crash along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others last month.
On the day of Bryant’s death, Liza Sejkora, the principal of Camas High School, posted to Facebook: “Not gonna lie. Seems to me that karma caught up with a rapist today,” according to ABC News.
Sejkora, who has been the principal at the school for three years, apologized for her post referencing a 2003 rape allegation. The former Laker star was accused of raping an employee at a Colorado hotel, and while the criminal charges were dismissed, the two parties agreed to a settlement, and he acknowledged that the victim did not consider the encounter consensual.
“I have some personal experience that generated the visceral reaction,” Sejkora told KATU on Tuesday. “This was a situation where I didn’t think before I posted, and I’m terribly regretful about that.”
“I’m embarrassed that I made such a poor decision and let down my students,” she added. “We communicated with our community last night, my teachers yesterday, and then the students today. I’m hopeful that my regret will garner me some trust moving forward.”
The district’s Superintendent Jeff Snell said the principal “did not meet [their] standard” in her conduct, and he plans on supporting her has she tries to rebuild trust the community.
