Rose McGowan Brings Up Kobe Bryant's Apology To Sexual Assault Accuser While Defending Gayle King

Gettyimages | Marc Piasecki

Gettyimages | CBS Photo Archive

Gayle King found herself in very hot water after bringing up the rape allegations made against Kobe Bryant in 2003 during an interview with WNBA legend Lisa Leslie. King mentioned Bryant's "complicated legacy," and tons of people, including rapper Snoop Dogg attacked King (and Oprah Winfrey by extension) for bringing it up. Snoop wrote on social media:

"is it only blacks that y'all wanna interview and try and tarnish they reputation over accusations? F— both you h— on behalf of the whole hood u b—s not with us."

King came out and said that the viral clip was taken out of context from a more nuanced interview, but the damage had been done and King started receiving "death threats."

Actress Rose McGowan, who has been at the forefront of the Me Too Movement since the beginning, called out Snoop Dogg and others who criticized King and Washington Post reporter Felicia Sonmez for bringing up Kobe's complicated past while also praising Bryant for the growth that he exhibited throughout his life. She wrote:

"You want to know why Kobe Bryant is a hero? He apologized to a hurt young woman. Snoop & others it’s time to stop terrorizing
@gayleking & @feliciasonmez Truth hurts. Death hurts. Grow the f*ck up. Kobe stopped hurting women, so can you."

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Gettyimages | ROBYN BECK

McGowan included an excerpt from Kobe Bryant's 2003 apology to the woman who alleged that their sexual experience was not consensual. At the time, Bryant said:

"First, I want to apologize to the young woman involved in this incident. I want to apologize to her for my behavior that night and the consequences she has suffered in the last year... Although I truly believe this encounter was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did."

Gettyimages | Allen Berezovsky

McGowan also included how Bryant ended his apology, admitting that he understood where the woman was coming from instead of belittling her experience.

"After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand that she feels that she did not consent to this encounter."

McGowan's point is that Bryant learned from the miscommunication and endeavored to change his behavior, developing into a dedicated family man. One mistake doesn't have to define Bryant's legacy because he genuinely changed and did the work, but that doesn't mean that people should ignore that it happened.