Does He Have A Point?
By: Tommy “Tj” Sotomayor

Vanessa Bryant, widow of basketball star Kobe Bryant, has been defended by fans after social media personality Dr. Umar Johnson accused her of not using the late athlete’s money to “do any good in the Black community.”

NBA hall of famer Kobe Bryant, 41, and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna “Gigi” Bryant, were among a group of nine people who were killed when the helicopter they were flying in crashed near Calabasas, California, in January 2020.

The tragic incident saw fans across the globe mourning for the Los Angeles Lakers star. He left behind Vanessa Bryant, his wife of 19 years, and their three other daughters, Natalia, 20, Bianka, 7, and Capri, 4.

That September, Vanessa Bryant filed a civil lawsuit against Los Angeles County, arguing that the deputies who arrived at the crash scene had “used personal cell phones to take and share gratuitous photos of the dead children, parents and coaches.”

In August 2022, nine jurors unanimously agreed that the photos of the crash invaded her privacy and caused emotional distress, awarding her $16 million.

While Vanessa Bryant has largely been supported at public events in the years since her husband’s death, Johnson, who has spoken out against interracial marriages on a number of occasions, expressed unfounded claims about her.

Making an appearance on a recent episode of the Joe Budden Podcast, Johnson took aim at Vanessa Bryant, who is of Mexican descent, over his perception of how she has used her money following her husband’s death.

In a clip shared on X, formerly Twitter, Johnson is shown saying that Vanessa Bryant “inherited [Kobe Bryant’s] wealth and guess what? Is Vanessa Bryant using any of that Black man’s money to do any good in the Black community? Absolutely f****** not.”

When challenged by the podcast’s co-hosts on how he knew such a declaration to be a fact, Johnson said: “She’s a public figure… I do know, and I’m telling you now. Vanessa Bryant just started an initiative with three predominantly white colleges, some sort of a sports initiative with Kobe’s money and Kobe’s name.

“Didn’t choose a single HBCU [historically Black colleges and universities] with a Black man’s money.”

Why Is Fake Dr Umar Johnson Mad At Vanessa Bryant When Shes Doing The Same Thing He Does! lol! Bro At Least She's Not Pretending To Start A School With Blacks Money While Entertaining Sukihanna! pic.twitter.com/sPdiRCoqL0

— Mr Tommy Sotomayor (@itsmrsotomayor) December 28, 2023

Vanessa Bryant and her husband founded the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Foundation in 2007, which provides scholarships to minority college students and other youth worldwide. The couple were also founding donors of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.

Psychologist Johnson was told by the hosts that there are many Black spouses of Black celebrities who may not have invested in the Black community.

“There’s a difference,” Johnson countered, “and you know what the difference is? If I marry a white woman, when I die, my wealth goes to the very people who robbed everything from my community.”

Newsweek has contacted a representative of Vanessa Bryant via email for comment.

The clip has sparked an uproar on X, where, at the time of publication, it has been viewed more than 26 million times.

“This is a lie [and] her daughters are black,” one X user said in reaction to Johnson’s comments about Vanessa Bryant. “Vanessa also does not give Kobe’s money to her own mama, check that. No vanessa Bryant slander will be tolerated.”

The X user rounded out their post with a link to the Mamba & Mambacita Foundation. Initially founded as the Mamba Sports Foundation by Kobe Bryant in 2016 after his retirement from basketball, the charity’s name was a nod to his nickname, the Black Mamba.

The organization provides funding and sports programming for young athletes in underserved communities, as is stated in its mission on its official website. The charity was renamed in 2020 after the athlete and his daughter died.

Defending Vanessa Bryant further, another X user wrote: “I lived across the street from a community center in North Philadelphia (predominantly black) where Vanessa Bryant had the courts fully remodeled for the kids in the area. People just be talking to talk.”

I lived across the street from a community center in North Philadelphia (predominantly black) where Vanessa Bryant had the courts fully remodeled for the kids in the area. People just be talking to talk. https://t.co/acUBPc1mc2 pic.twitter.com/gqyt3kiZOp

— Chris Giddens (@CanPrinceLive) December 27, 2023

“Vanessa Bryant woke up one morning and never saw her husband and daughter again, and she is still (seemingly) functioning,” another commented. “If that woman puts all of Kobe’s money in a f****** tissue box and wipes her tears with it every day, she deserves to do that.”

Echoing that sentiment, another chimed in: “Insanely entitled take. Vanessa Bryant lost her husband and daughter in the most horrific way. If she wants to make paper snowflakes with his money she absolutely can do that.”

“That ain’t Vanessa [Bryant’s] job,” another stated. “Her job is to take care of THE FAMILY WITH KOBE MONEY. He don’t know what kind of money talk they had before his passing. Dr. Umar just don’t need to mention Kobe AT ALL.”

Sharing photographic evidence from social media posts, another responded to a Johnson fan’s defense of his statements: “There are literally black children in the mamba foundation/ academy. Please use your time and energy to avenge actual issues within the black community. Vanessa Bryant is not one of them.”

There are literally black children in the mamba foundation/ academy 😅 please use your time and energy to avenge actual issues within the black community Vanessa Bryant is not one of them. pic.twitter.com/FqSizba1XR

— hi! I’m Myi 😄 (@myi_savie) December 27, 2023

“Vanessa Bryant has done more philanthropic work in the community than Dr. Umar ‘Lemme Hold a Dollar’ Johnson,” another wrote. “No need to entertain this stupid discussion.”

“Umar Johnson is NOT a spokesperson for all Black Americans,” insisted another. “His thoughts and feelings are his own. We do not have ANY leaders or spokespersons.”

Amid the wave of criticism, there were some X users who defended, or attempted to explain, Johnson’s point of view, including one who commented: “[Johnson] is [saying] culturally, [Vanessa Bryant] isn’t connected to the black community.

“She’d likely invest in middle-class youth and or Latinos Dr. Umar has an outdated mindset that wouldn’t resonate with people today because society is based on individualism. Our ancestors’ vision was generational.”