The president of CBS News condemned threats faced by Gayle King after she brought up a 2003 rape allegation against NBA legend Kobe Bryant in an interview.
Susan Zirinsky, who has led CBS News for a year, did not name anyone who slung such “reprehensible” comments at King, but the statement, obtained by the Hill, comes after rapper Snoop Dogg made threatening comments about the broadcaster.
“We fully support Gayle King and her integrity as a journalist,” Zirinsky said. “We find the threats against her or any journalist doing their job reprehensible.”
King, 65, faced heavy criticism after bringing up the allegation made against Bryant, who died at 41 in a helicopter crash with his 13-year-old daughter and several others last month, during an interview with former WNBA player Lisa Leslie, a friend of Bryant’s. The clip went viral, after which King claimed her comments were taken out of context.
The sexual assault charge against Bryant was dropped after his accuser refused to appear in court. Bryant settled with his accuser outside of court and issued a public apology, acknowledging that an encounter took place but saying he interpreted what happened differently than she did.
Zirinsky described King’s comments as “comprehensive and thoughtful.” The CBS chief said the United States is “a country where differences of opinion are welcome — but hateful and dangerous threats are completely unacceptable.”
Snoop Dogg made headlines when he told King, “Back off, bitch, before we come get you,” in a Feb. 5 Instagram video.
The rapper posted another video on his Instagram account on Saturday, attempting to clarify his comments and denying that he meant to threaten King.
“I’m a nonviolent person. When I said what I said, I spoke for the people who felt like Gayle was very disrespectful to Kobe Bryant and his family,” Snoop Dogg said. “What I look like wanting some harm to come to some 70-year-old woman? I was raised way better than that.”
“I didn’t want no harm to come to her or threaten her,” he continued.
