CONTROVERSIA Help us
Portrait of Kobe Bryant

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Born in United States · Nationality American — Basketball / media / criminal and civil litigation / public legacy

Kobe Bryant

Sport

Documented profile covering 11 controversies, including “2018: removed from animation festival jury after petition relating to 2003 case” and “2013: dispute with parents over sale of memorabilia — settlement and parental apology”.

Are you concerned? Right of reply

Profile No. 1668 · Updated on 12 October 2026

Portrait of Kobe Bryant

Photo: Wikimedia Commons
11Documented controversies
13Sources
0Conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

01

October 2018

2018: removed from animation festival jury after petition relating to 2003 case

No legal proceedings

The Animation Is Film festival removed Bryant from its jury following a petition referring to the 2003 sexual assault allegation. Bryant expressed disappointment at the decision and defended his commitment to diversity and inclusion.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    The Washington PostKobe Bryant removed from animation festival jury after protestPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

02

May–June 2013

2013: dispute with parents over sale of memorabilia — settlement and parental apology

Civil / administrative proceedings

Bryant legally challenged his mother's attempt to auction hundreds of items from his youth, maintaining that she did not have his permission. A settlement limited the sale to six items, representing less than 10% of the original collection, and his parents issued a written apology.

State of the evidence
Settlement
Attribution
Protagonist is the complainant

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    ESPNKobe Bryant memorabilia lawsuit settled; parents apologizePressHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

03

April 2011

2011: homophobic slur directed at referee — $100,000 NBA fine and apology

Civil / administrative proceedings

After receiving a technical foul, Bryant was filmed using a homophobic slur towards a referee. The NBA fined him $100,000.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    NBA CommunicationsKobe Bryant fined $100,000Sports governing bodyVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

04

January 2007

2007: contact with Manu Ginobili's face — one-game NBA suspension

Civil / administrative proceedings

After his shot was blocked, Bryant made an arm movement that struck Manu Ginobili in the face. The NBA described it as an unnatural basketball motion and suspended him for one game.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    ESPNKobe Bryant suspended one game for striking GinobiliPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

05

March 2007

2007: contact with Marko Jarić's face — second one-game suspension for similar motion

Civil / administrative proceedings

A few weeks after the Ginobili incident, Bryant was again suspended for one game after striking Marko Jarić in the face with his arm during a shooting motion.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    ESPNKobe suspended one game for striking JaricPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

06

March 2007

2007: elbow contact with Kyle Korver — retroactive Flagrant 1 foul, no further suspension

Civil / administrative proceedings

The NBA retroactively upgraded Bryant's elbow contact with Kyle Korver to a Flagrant 1 foul. The incident occurred shortly after his suspensions for contact with Ginobili and Jarić.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    ESPNBryant assessed flagrant foul, avoids suspensionPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

07

August 2004 – March 2005

2004–2005: Colorado complainant's civil action — confidential out-of-court settlement

Civil / administrative proceedings

After the criminal case was dropped, the complainant sued Bryant in civil proceedings. The parties reached a confidential settlement in March 2005, ending the case before trial.

State of the evidence
Settlement
Attribution
Accused

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    Los Angeles TimesBryant Accuser Settles Civil SuitPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

08

December 2005

2005: elbow to Mike Miller — two-game NBA suspension

Civil / administrative proceedings

Bryant was suspended for two games for striking Mike Miller in the throat with his forearm during a Lakers–Grizzlies game.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    ESPN / Associated PressBryant suspended two games for elbowing MillerPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

09

July 2003 – 1 September 2004

2003–2004: Colorado sexual assault allegation — criminal prosecution dropped before trial

Case dismissed / dropped

Bryant was charged with sexual assault in Colorado following an encounter with a hotel employee. He acknowledged an extramarital sexual encounter but maintained that it was consensual. In September 2004, prosecutors moved to dismiss the case after the complainant decided not to testify at trial.

Attribution
Accused

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    ESPNKobe Bryant sexual assault case dismissedPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    The Washington PostRape Case Against Bryant Is DroppedPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

10

March 2002

2002: fight with Reggie Miller — two-game suspension and $12,500 fine

Civil / administrative proceedings

Bryant and Reggie Miller fought at the end of a Lakers–Pacers game. The NBA suspended both players for two games; Bryant also received a $12,500 fine.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    ESPNBryant, Miller suspended two games eachPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

11

April 2000

2000: fight with Chris Childs — one-game suspension and $5,000 fine

Civil / administrative proceedings

Kobe Bryant and Chris Childs fought during a Lakers–Knicks game. The NBA suspended Bryant for one game and fined him $5,000 for responding with a punch.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    CBS News / Associated PressKobe, Childs Fined, SuspendedPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    Deseret News / Associated PressNBA suspends Bryant, ChildsPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

II. Constellation of documented links

  • Linked profile (portrait or initials) — click to open it
  • Line width: number of documented references
  • Hover over or tap a line: controversies and sources

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

List of documented links (3)
  1. Karl Malone1 documented reference
  2. Shaquille O'Neal1 documented reference
  3. Snoop Dogg1 documented reference

III. Has something changed?

A new court decision, a missing source, a mistake? Tell us what should be updated: every request is read by the editorial team.

Support the archive

Controversia checks and updates its profiles independently. Support is optional and has no effect on the content of profiles.

Donate

Update request

Kobe Bryant

Say which controversy is concerned and, if possible, give a source. Between 10 and 2,500 characters.

0 / 2500

To prevent abuse, the approximate location of your connection is recorded with your request.

iPhone and iPad

Install Controversia

  1. Tap Share
  2. then Add to Home Screen

Tap Share, then Add to Home Screen.