Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant came under fire Thursday for comments made about Trayvon Martin during an interview with The New Yorker, in which Bryant said he doesn’t support defending someone just because they’re African-American.
Bryant spoke about the outrage and protest that came from many African-Americans after the verdict in the case of the 17-year-old’s murder was delivered last year. In an interview with The New Yorker, Bryant referred to members of the Miami Heat wearing hoodies in Martin’s honor — a move that was replicated for a series of Ebony magazine covers.
“I won’t react to something just because I’m supposed to because I’m an African-American. That argument doesn’t make any sense to me,” Bryant said. “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’re 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.”
The Los Angeles Lakers star sparked a firestorm on Twitter, as dissenters criticized Bryant’ for his comments.
Kobe could’ve just shouted out love for Trayvon’s parents, said he couldn’t imagine their loss and kept it breezy. He didn’t.
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) March 27, 2014
My issue is that Kobe reduces the Trayvon Martin outrage to blind racial solidarity, when it was about so much more than that.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) March 27, 2014
If there was any question as to why Kobe Bryant is so hateable, despite being one of the world’s most gifted athletes, he answered it today.
— Jamilah Lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) March 27, 2014
The NBA star then took to his own account to voice his opinion about Martin’s case — which, he said, was made based on the facts.
Travon Martin was wronged THATS my opinion and thats what I believe the FACTS showed. The system did not work #myopinion #tweetURthoughts
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) March 27, 2014
Martin was shot and killed by George Zimmerman in Sanford, Fla., in 2012. A jury acquitted Martin in June 2013, sparking outrage from many nationwide. The Rev. Al Sharpton organized a series of marches to protest the decision, and President Barack Obama said days after the verdict was handed down that he identified with Martin.
h/t Mediaite
