Actress Evan Rachel Wood Faces Backlash for Calling Kobe Bryant a ‘Rapist’ Hours After His Death

Activist actress Evan Rachel Wood faced a backlash on Monday, after calling Kobe Bryant a “rapist” in the hours after the NBA star tragically died in a helicopter crash.

Wood was lambasted by fans who were aghast that she would bring up past accusations of rape lodged against the player just as the nation tries to come to terms with his death.

“What has happened is tragic. I am heartbroken for Kobe’s family. He was a sports hero. He was also a rapist. And all of these truths can exist simultaneously,” Wood tweeted Sunday only hours after the media reported the player’s death.

The Westworld star was alluding to the accusation of rape that was pressed against Bryant 17 years ago.

Back in 2003, the NBA superstar was accused of rape by a 19-year-old hotel employee who said Bryant sexually assaulted her at The Lodge and Spa at Cordillera in Colorado. Bryant ultimately faced no prosecution when the case was dropped because police found the DNA of another man in the accuser’s underwear. A civil case dragged on until 2005 when the player settled for an undisclosed amount.

But fans were incensed that Wood used her note about the player’s death to dredge up the accusations against him. The liberal actress’s Twitter feed bristled with condemnation.

Good News for Charlie Kirk’s Family: Legal Expert Says Evidence Against Robinson Is ‘Strongest’ He’s Ever Seen

38-Year-Old Able-Bodied Man Irate After Losing Food Stamps Under Trump

After Australia passes social media ban lawmakers probed on why Congress hasn’t done more to protect kids

DHS to focus on arresting illegal immigrants with serious offenses amid negative polling on ICE raids: report

Justice Department sues Fulton County to obtain records related to 2020 election

Georgia woman hospitalized after attacker hurls corrosive chemical during evening walk

EXCLUSIVE: Inside Trump’s private schedule as media fixates on his health

Obese man on death row chooses buffet of BBQ, wings, cheeseburger, pizza, ice cream for last meal in Georgia

Florida influencer, 41, accused of inappropriately touching, exposing herself to teenage son’s friend

Republican House leader signals plan to begin contempt proceedings against Bill and Hillary Clinton

Watch: Tim Walz Tries to Make Somali Fraud Scandal Seem Perfectly Normal, Blames Trump for Talking About It

Elon Musk Sets Newsom Straight on ‘Trans Kids’ After Governor’s Office Attacks Musk’s Family

James Carville Criticizes Jasmine Crockett’s Senate Bid, Says She’s Too Self-Centered to Win

Fox News Politics Newsletter: Omar accused of opening door to massive Minneapolis fraud

Gabbard blasts Democrat Bennie Thompson for calling National Guard shooting an ‘unfortunate accident’

In fact, the condemnation became so heavy, by Monday afternoon Wood put her account on “protected” status so that people not already followed by the actress can no longer see them.

Despite, the move to hide her tweets, multiple outlets had already reported on the opposition she faced over her tweet.

Page Six, for instance, noted that Twitter user Catherine (Kathleen) Curtin scolded the actress, writing, “And this is where the MeToo movement has gotten out of control… attacking a man who literally just died less than 24 hours ago, with his little girl!”

Twitter user Wes Hatton, accused Wood of turning #MeToo into a joke, adding, “These things need to be taken seriously and your [sic] just looking for attention after him, and his daughter JUST died. Wow.”

Actress Kyla Pratt noted that she loves Wood’s work but slammed her for the tweet. “But this tweet? How f–king dare you?” she wrote.

For her part, Wood tried to take a step back and explain her original message

“Beloveds,” she wrote in explanation, “this was not a condemnation or a celebration. It was a reminder that everyone will have different feelings, and there is room for us all to grieve together instead of fighting, everyone has lost.”