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.

Trump Offers New Retirement Account Opportunity to Americans

Bernie Sanders campaigns with controversial Michigan Senate candidate

Building the White House Ballroom Shouldn’t Be a Partisan Issue After Horrific WHCD Shooting

Pritzker calls for criminal investigations into ICE agents over ‘Midway Blitz’ conduct

California leaders mum on $1B high-speed rail detour aimed at preserving disgraced labor leader’s memorial

Research Team Reveals the Secret of Ancient Biblical Manuscript

Tensions between John Thune and Mike Johnson loom over GOP immigration push

After NASCAR’s Greg Biffle And Family Died, Police Think ‘Friends’ Stole from Them

State Department fires back at accusations of ‘empty planes’ rescuing Americans from conflict zones

Inside the coming battle over Virginia’s abortion ballot referendum

Iowa woman died following hernia repair after nurses dismissed painful post-surgery symptoms: lawsuit

Shooting during party at Oklahoma’s Arcadia Lake leaves at least 10 wounded, police say

Marco Rubio spotted behind DJ booth at family wedding as social media reacts to viral clip

Breaking: Rudy Giuliani in ‘Critical Condition’ at Florida Hospital

Rudy Giuliani hospitalized in critical but stable condition: ‘He’s fighting’

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.”