I have zero issue discussing the rape case. It's a part of his story, his life, etc. It happened, there was a case, there was evidence, you can find it online readily, etc. If the goal is to remember humans - not gods or idols - then we should examine the totality of their life. We should talk about the trial...and the clear shift in Kobe's life after the trial. The evolution Kobe took, going from a player who at one point was clowned and despised by some...to a player nearly universally beloved. A player who went out his way to mentor girls and women. That's an interesting conversation to have...and one that we can't have without acknowledging the case and what came afterward. And we also can't have it in this climate where you are either all good or all bad. Where one mis-step renders you cancelled for life.
My problem with Gayle (and Oprah) is that they selectively choose who to target with their faux investigative journalism. Gayle is on record dapping Charlie Rose, Oprah is on record dapping Weinstein. Their behavior strikes me as a perfect example of white feminism. The type of feminism that revels in surface level tokenism and identity politics, which are used to gain a seat at the very same table that was designed/powered by systematic sexism. The women who were molested and raped by powerful white men are merely sacrifices to be ignored/overlooked as Gayle, Oprah, and others climb as far as they can in order to be as close as they can to power. Denigrating Kobe doesn't endanger their position at the table. Denigrated MJ doesn't either. Denigrating Weinstein though? Charlie Rose? Matt Lauer? They'll never do it. Because the men at that table are guilty of all the same crimes that Weinstein/Rose/Lauer/etc committed. They just haven't been exposed yet...but they sure as hell aren't going to sit back and let women who might expose them get into positions of power or influence.
