Social media personality Dr. Umar Johnson has accused Kobe Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, of failing to support the black community with her husband’s fortune.
Bryant, daughter Gianna, and seven others were killed when their helicopter crashed in fog in Calabasas, California in 2020. He was survived by his wife and three remaining daughters, Natalia, Bianca, and Capri.
It’s believed the basketball legend had amassed a fortune of $600million at the time of his tragic death.
Earlier this year, Vanessa was also awarded a $28.85m settlement after filing a lawsuit against Los Angeles County over photos taken at the crash site.
But Johnson, whose views on homosexuality and interracial relationships have caused controversy in the past, has accused Vanessa of not using that wealth to support the black community.
Dr. Umar Johnson (left) accused Kobe Bryant’s widow of not supporting the black community
It’s believed Bryant had amassed a fortune of $600m at the time of his tragic death in 2020
Speaking on the Joe Budden Podcast, he said: ‘Kobe Bryant died. Vanessa inherited his 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***ing not.’
Asked how he knows that, he replies: ‘Because she’s a public figure’.
When one of the other panelists says Johnson cannot possibly know how she’s spending her money, he angrily replies: ‘I do know. 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 and didn’t even choose a single HBCU (historically black colleges and universities). With a black man’s money.’
Johnson also took aim at boxer Marvelous Marvin Hagler’s widow, Kay, for the same thing. He also alleged Hagler died of a reaction to a Covid-19 shot, which she has strongly denied in the past.
‘Marvelous Marvin Hagler. He died from taking a Covid shot. Is his white widow using any of Marvelous Marvin Hagler’s fortune to help black folks?’
Told that he’s being unfair, Johnson replies: ‘I’m being unfair how? Expecting white women to use black money to help black people. How’s that unfair?’
His fellow panelist replies: ‘The same way you’re naming these people we can name mad black wives that got black money from their husbands that did s*** to help black people.’
Vanessa was awarded a $28.85m settlement after filing a lawsuit against Los Angeles County
The Lakers will unveil a statue of Bryant outside their downtown arena on February 8 next year
Johnson then interjected, commenting: ‘Here’s the big difference. You know what the difference is?
‘If I marry a white woman then when I die my wealth goes to the very people who have robbed everything from my community.’
The ‘initiative’ mentioned by Johnson could be the inaugural Mamba program that was launched earlier this year.
It saw the University of Kentucky, University of Connecticut, University of Southern California, University of Oregon, Duke and LSU’s basketball programs receive uniforms featuring the Mamba logo, Kobe sneakers and other apparel for the season.
The partnership with Nike was not intended to be a charitable deed, however, rather a marketing strategy to increase the spotlight on the Mamba sneakers.
Vanessa, who was in a relationship with Bryant for 21 years and married to him for 19 of those, reportedly donated $16m of her Los Angeles County settlement to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation.
The organization, previously known as the Mamba Sports Foundation, before Bryant and his daughter’s death, strives to create opportunities in sports for underserved boys and girls.
Vanessa is also still running the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation.
The Lakers plan to unveil a statue of the Bryant, an NBA Hall-of-Famer, outside the Crypto.com Arena on February 8 of next year.
That date serves to honor not only Bryant and the two numbers he wore in his career – 8 and 24 – but it will also memorialize Kobe’s daughter Gianna, who wore No. 2 when she played.
DailyMail.com has contacted Vanessa Bryant for comment.
