Vanessa Bryant, the widow of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, has sued Los Angeles County for allegedly sharing photos from the crash site that took her husband, daughter, and seven other passengers. Bryant’s case revolves around allegations that LA Sheriff’s Deputies and Fire Department Captains took photos of the crash site, including of Bryant’s maimed body, and passed them around to friends and family.
Not only was this a violation of basic protocol, but sharing photos of the deceased icon was a blatant act of depravity.
Vanessa Bryant Leaves Courtroom in Tears
In absolutely stinging testimony, Mrs. Bryant considered ending her life after news of the leaked photos broke. She testified that the information still affects her to this day.
In tearful testimony during the trial over Kobe Bryant crash photos, Vanessa Bryant says she still suffers from anxiety and panic attacks https://t.co/3zgE4PpPt0
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) August 19, 2022
The photos were gruesome, as the severity of the crash left most of the victims unrecognizable. While the images circulated internally and were shown amongst LA County personnel, Bryant nor anyone in the wider public has seen them, and they have never been published.
During the trial, police and firefighters who shared the photos shared testimony to explain their actions. Vanessa Bryant listened to the shocking revelations in court and had to leave during a particular gutwrenching moment.
#VanessaBryant leaves courtroom in tears as bartender says deputy revealed Kobe crash photos.
Rip KobeBryant & Gianna ????❤️❤️#TheProgressReport pic.twitter.com/vip6s4GwIE
— The Progress Report Media Group (@TPRMediaGroup) August 12, 2022
I know I wouldn’t have the strength to listen to this. And the insensitive manner in which the police shared these gruesome photos of Bryant’s body adds insult to injury. It is almost sicker and more depraved that the sheriff’s deputies shared these photos while messing around with friends. Like it was a casual night out, and someone said, “Hey, wanna see something crazy?”
I’m sick to my stomach reading this…
Vanessa Bryant is going through hell right now listening to deputies reveal they were playing Call of Duty while texting graphic photos of Kobe and his daughter to each other.
I’ve seen dismembered bodies. This is beyond twisted.
— Ryan Shead (@RyanShead) August 17, 2022
If the police are doing this to a beloved athlete, there’s no reason to think they aren’t sharing photos of everyday people who go through these tragedies.
I know many people do not want to believe we live in a world where images of dead loved ones will be shared inappropriately or used as someone’s “come up”. But we do.https://t.co/1lx24U0EqK
— Nelba Márquez-Greene, LMFT (@Nelba_MG) August 19, 2022
I am increasingly disturbed the more I read about this story, and I hope justice is swift.
Reactions To The Courtroom Revelations
Vanessa Bryant has known no peace. Sick to my stomach at the vile behavior of the LA county Sheriff’s Department regarding crash sight photos. Showing bartenders photos of dismembered torsos? Everyone should lose their fucking job.
— erin (@erinh1110) August 22, 2022
I am catching up on this story, and all I want to say is seriously screw those 8 L.A. County Sheriff’s deputies for doing what they did. It’s disgusting. It makes me so angry. I can’t even imagine how she feels.
I am 1000% in full support of Vanessa. https://t.co/WW13WJNH0w
— Denise ‘Hollywood Superstar’ Salcedo (@_denisesalcedo) August 13, 2022
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