Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Late Kobe Bryant is in the spotlight for his new three-part documentary series, Kobe: The Making of a Legend, starting on January 25, 2025.
The second episode of the documentary draws attention, revisiting the controversial sexual assault allegations from 2003, and includes a newly uncovered police interview with the accuser.
Highlights
- On July 18, 2003, a 19-year-old hotel employee accused Kobe Bryant of sexual assault, and Eagle County sheriff arrested him.
- The judge dismissed the charges after the alleged victim said she was unwilling to testify.
- She filed a civil lawsuit against him, and they settled out of court in March 2005 for an undisclosed fee that was thought to be more than $2.5 million.
Kobe Bryant, a shooting guard who played for the Los Angeles Lakers for 20 years, is considered one of the greatest basketball players ever.
Sadly, he lost his life in a helicopter crash in Calabasas five years ago this week.
The first episode of Kobe: The Making of a Legend was released on January 25 on CNN. It covers his childhood, rise to basketball youth, and marriage to Vanessa, which causes him to disagree with his parents and closest advisors.
However, its second episode, set to release on January 31, is proved to be the most controversial as it includes details of a newly unearthed police interview with the 19-year-old hotel worker who accused him in 2003.
Although Kobe initially denied having sexual relations with the young woman, he admits having it after making it clear that he was worried about his wife finding out about it.
Kobe Bryant Accuser Pushed Him Away When He Groped Her
On July 18, 2003, a 19-year-old hotel employee accused Kobe Bryant of sexual assault, and the Eagle County sheriff’s office arrested him for an investigation of a complaint.
Several sources have claimed that the 19-year-old’s name is Katelyn Faber.
In 2003, Kobe Bryant was arrested for raping 19-year-old Katelyn Faber. (Arrest mug shot below.) He paid her a huge out-of-court settlement & apologized to her publicly. He went on to have a successful career as a "sports hero." Her life was ruined. pic.twitter.com/rcs5LvhpRd
— John Anderson (@Lebensrune) January 29, 2020
Kobe was in the sleepy Colorado town of Eagle to undergo minor knee surgery and checked into the Cordillera Lodge and Spa in June 2003.
His accuser was employed at the hotel’s front desk and claims that after showing the VIP guest to his room, he asked her for a personal tour.
Later, he asked her for a hug and started kissing her when they returned to his room. Although it was consensual, she claims that Kobe grabbed her by the neck as she tried to pull away from him when he began to grope her.
When he took off his pants, that’s when I started to kinda back up, and to push his hands off me, and that’s when he started to choke me. He wasn’t choking me enough that I couldn’t breathe, just choking me to the point I was scared.
19-year-old hotel employee
Moreover, the 19-year-old said he tightened his hold around her whenever she said no.
Kobe’s lawyer held a press conference where he denied the assault but admitted to having sexual relations with the young woman.
If convicted, he could go to prison for a minimum of four years, away from his wife and five-month-old daughter and stopping his basketball career in its tracks.
Judge Dismissed The Charges After The Alleged Victim Said She Was Unwilling To Testify
Kobe Bryant’s trial had collapsed by September 2004. The accused victim was harassed by the media, was expected to testify about her sexual past in court, and was threatened with death.
Kobe’s lawyer named her six times in court as the trial opened despite being told not to identify the victim.
"The Kobe Bryant sexual assault case began on July 18, 2003, when the news media reported that the sheriff's office in Eagle, Colorado, had arrested basketball player Kobe Bryant in connection with an investigation of a sexual assault complaint filed by a 19-year-old hotel staff" pic.twitter.com/Qo4wTv1ndu
— . (@imchiIling) July 11, 2023
After being unwilling to testify about the sexual assault, the accused victim filed a civil lawsuit against Kobe. They settled out of court for an undisclosed fee thought to be more than $2.5 million in March 2005.
First, I want to apologize directly to the young woman involved in this incident. I want to apologize to her for my behavior that night and for the consequences she has suffered in the past year. Although this year has been incredibly difficult for me personally, I can only imagine the pain she has had to endure.
Kobe Bryant
Kobe never discussed the case publicly and emphasized his relationship with his wife and four daughters. He had rebuilt his reputation as a dedicated family man.
On the other hand, his wife, Vanessa Bryant, filed for divorce in 2011, citing “irreconcilable differences,” but they had recommitted to the marriage by 2013.
Netizens argue that Bryant used negative attention to fuel his rise to even greater heights and helped inspire the ferocious “Black Mamba” nickname he gave himself.
Sadly, his life was cut short alongside his daughter, Gianna, on their way to his Mamba Sports Academy.
Additional Information
- Kobe Bean Bryant, the son of Joe Bryant and Pam Bryant, was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- He had won 5 NBA Championships and was an 18-time All-Star, a 12-time member of the All-Defensive Team, and a 15-time member of the All-NBA Team.
- He was voted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020 and named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
- His net worth was estimated at $600 million during his tragic demise.
