Online Reporter
KOBE Bryant’s wife has been approached by a number of producers who want to make a movie biopic about the basketball legend’s astonishing life.
However, she is adamant that she retains full control of the narrative so she can help protect Kobe’s legacy and also protect her kids from some of the more negative aspects of the NBA star’s life such his sexual assault case, an insider has said.
Speaking close to the anniversary of the horrific helicopter crash which took his life on January 26, 2020, a source close to the family told The Sun: “Since Kobe’s tragic passing the family has been approached by several producers about putting together a film about Kobe’s astonishing life.
“But Vanessa is extremely protective over his late husband’s legacy as she has every right to be.
“She is adamant that she and the kids have the right to outline the plot and subjects.
“To her it would be essential that she would have to be part of the creative process and a senior figure in production.
“Vanessa was by his side every step of the way and has valuable insight into all his life highs and lows.
“It would make total sense, from their perspective, that any proposed project would have their seal of approval and voice involved.”
DEATH OF AN ICON
Tragic Kobe passed away on 26 January, 2020 in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others.
His death was a huge loss to the sporting world and beyond, with tributes pouring in globally to honour his legacy. But as well as his amazing sporting achievements, Kobe also went through some dark times, including when he was accused by a 19-year-old woman of sexually assaulting her in his hotel room in Eagle, Colorado, where he was staying ahead of a scheduled knee surgery.
Kobe, who was 24 at the time and married, admitted to having had sex with the woman but maintained that the encounter was consensual.
SEX CLAIMS
He was charged with sexual assault, which attracted widespread media attention, but the case did not proceed to trial because the accuser decided not to testify in court, citing the intense public scrutiny.
Charges were dropped in 2004.
“It is out there that Kobe endured a raft of highs but obviously the allegations over the sex case have always been a troubling part of his journey,” the source said.
“Vanessa has made it clear that through her lawyers and advisors that a project, regardless of whether she is overseeing them, about her late husband, should consider the well being of her children.
“She doesn’t want damage being done to her family potentially by any scouring of the truth or misrepresentation of those difficult times.”
Meanwhile it has been reported that Kobe have a strained relationship with his dad Joe, who passed away last July age 69.
The source added: “It was always well known within the family circles that there were issues between Kobe and his parents over the years. At the center of that dispute was that his father Joe didn’t see eye to eye with Vanessa.
“They didn’t attend their wedding and there was some fall out over suggestions that his parents had sold off some of his memorabilia. Strides had been made after they stopped speaking and their animosity had cooled of sorts in recent years. — Sun.
Mathew Masinge