Gayle King Responds To Backlash Over THAT Kobe Bryant Question
I’m Embarrassed’ Jolted Journalist Gayle King Responds To Backlash Over THAT Kobe Bryant Question, Blasts CBS
Gayle King Responds To Backlash Over THAT Kobe Bryant Question
The Internet’s ON FIRE today and it all centers around a viral interview, a late basketball legend and an either valid or vapid question depending on who you ask.
Journalist Gayle King recently did a sitdown with Lisa Leslie that caused a firestorm of outrage across the Internet. The CBS reporter chatted with former WNBA star Lisa Leslie about the legacy of her friend Kobe Bryant and a clip from the interview went viral.
In it, the CBS This Morning host asked Leslie about Kobe’s sexual assault charge and that, of course, has the Internet PARTICULARLY PEEVED.
Lisa herself tried to detract from the question noting that Kobe’s sex assault case was dismissed and saying she didn’t personally see Kobe act inappropriately but still, Gayle pressed on.
Gayle King: “It’s been said that his legacy is complicated because of a sexual assault charge, which was dismissed in 2003, 2004. Is it complicated for you as a woman, as a WNBA player?”
Lisa Leslie: “It’s not complicated for me at all. Even if there’s a few times that we’ve been at a club at the same time, Kobe’s not the kind of guy—never been, like, you know, ‘Lis, go get that girl, or tell her or send her this.’ I have other NBA friends that are like that. Kobe was never like that. I just never, have ever seen him being the kind of person that would do something to violate a woman or be aggressive in that way. That’s just not the person that I know.”
Gayle King: “But Lisa, you wouldn’t see it, though. As his friend, you wouldn’t see it.”
Lisa Leslie: “And that’s possible. I just don’t believe that. And I’m not saying things didn’t happen. I just don’t believe that things didn’t happen with force.”
.@WNBA legend @LisaLeslie told @GayleKing that Kobe Bryant's legacy is "not complicated" for her despite his 2003 rape accusation.
"I don't think it's something that we should keep hanging over his legacy." https://t.co/qj6MVvOaqX pic.twitter.com/9qtVORobLO
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) February 4, 2020
Gayle’s since responded on social media and she’s claiming that the Kobe question shouldn’t have been used as promo for the interview that covered a myriad of topics. She also admitted to being “mortified” and “angry” and blasted CBS for taking things out of context.
“I know that if I had only seen the clip that you saw, I’d be extremely angry with me too,” King said. :I am mortified. I am embarrassed and I am very angry.”
“Unbeknownst to me, my network put up a clip from a very wide-ranging interview — totally taken out of context — and when you see it that way, it’s very jarring. It’s jarring to me. I didn’t even know anything about it.”
“We talked about that court case because that court case has also come up. And I wanted to get Lisa’s take on it as a friend who knew him well, what she thought, where that should stand.”
“It was very powerful when she looked me in the eye, as a member of the media, to say, ‘It’s time for the media to leave it alone and to back off.'”
“I felt really good about the interview … so, for the network to take the most salacious part when taken out of context, and put it up online for people who didn’t see the whole interview, is very upsetting to me and that’s something I’m going to have to deal with with them. “There will be a very intense discussion about that.”
My perspective (1/2) pic.twitter.com/tUYK0yGh9q
— Gayle King (@GayleKing) February 6, 2020
(2/2) pic.twitter.com/Gojxatll7y
— Gayle King (@GayleKing) February 6, 2020
OOOP! Somebody’s about to get cussed out.
There’s a debate brewing here; some people think Gayle had a right as a journalist to ask the question-–but others are slamming her as “anti-black”, “low brow” and accusing her of targeting black men. Also, OF COURSE, Oprah’s catching strays as well and a certain disgraced film producer is being brought up as well.
Oprah & Gayle are both promoting the Kobe, Michael Jackson, & Russell Simmons allegations, but can’t seem seem to remember the guy who is currently standing trial.
Show me video of Oprah or Gayle badgering one of Harvey Weinstein’s acquaintances the way Gayle did Lisa Leslie? pic.twitter.com/mRA9lfPE8R
— PrometheusRisesAgain (@prometheus50K) February 5, 2020
What do YOU think?! Was the Kobe question classless or just part of Gayle’s job???
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Gayle King (@gayleking) on
Several celebs weighed in including Snoop Dogg, Rickey Smiley, and 50 Cent; see their thoughts on the flip.
👀what is this, wait somebody gotta help me understand why they keep doing this. 🤷🏽♂️i apologize for my language in advance let’s talk about this. pic.twitter.com/zpKu58SQwc
— 50cent (@50cent) February 5, 2020
Gayle King has me on 10 right now!! Why you didn’t ask any of the shi* when Kobe was living!! So disrespectful and inappropriate!! FOH!!! SMMFH!!
— Rickey Smiley (@RickeySmiley) February 5, 2020
#KobeBryant and his daughter haven’t been laid to rest! All these years why didn’t you ask or interview Kobe when he was living!! How disrespectful and disgusting!!! I don’t know what you and #OprahWinfrey are on, but it’s disturbing!! This interview with https://t.co/pQiGX04xcI pic.twitter.com/COWHqEZyTP
— Rickey Smiley (@RickeySmiley) February 6, 2020
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Boosie BadAzz (@officialboosieig) on
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Vivica A Fox (@msvfox) on
If Gayle asked Trump about his grab ‘em by the pussy remarks you would salute her. When she sat calmly during Robert’s meltdown she merited praise. Y’all don’t want journalism. Y’all want favoritism. https://t.co/Sx4yxTFPzD
— Ms. Golding (@GoldingGirl617) February 6, 2020
There's an unspoken belief that black women are supposed to protect black men from the law or public scrutiny even when they themselves commit the act. What's even worse, the protection (some) black demand they rarely give to us women.
— Ms. Golding (@GoldingGirl617) February 6, 2020
Continue Slideshow
The Guardian.
The Boston Globe.
The LA Times.
Slate.
Time.
ALL of these outlets presented the SAME question re: Kobe's legacy and the rape accusation a week before Gayle did. The question and follow up remark was valid. Lisa's response, though bias, was graceful and tactful.— Krystal Franklin (@krysfranklintv) February 6, 2020
Feelings are NOT facts. Gayle is a Journalist FIRST, celebrity second, maybe even third. She did her JOB — no matter how uncomfortable and hard the question might've been for some of YOU to hear, it was valid. The question of separating art from the artist is not at all new.
— Krystal Franklin (@krysfranklintv) February 6, 2020
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