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.

DNC vice chair attacks Democratic Sen. John Fetterman: ‘You’re a mess’

DOJ cites White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting in push to drop lawsuit against ballroom

Fox News Reporter Describes Experiencing Chaos on Stage During Trump Assassination Attempt

Another Eight Nigerian Christians Killed in Coordinated Attacks

Mamdani’s racial equity plan a hidden ‘moving the goalposts’ ploy to justify massive gov expansion: expert

ACLU, NAACP accused of trying to ‘sabotage’ US tourism with ‘fearmongering’ campaign

US military conducts strike on another boat carrying alleged narco-traffickers, killing 3

New York woman convicted for throwing dynamite at boyfriend, blowing off his hand as he tried to get rid of it

Obama says motive unclear despite manifesto outlining alleged targets in WHCD shooting

White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting: Timeline traces how suspect’s alleged cross-country plan unfolded

Wisconsin Dem’s bar laments ‘we almost got free beer day’ for Trump assassination

Full WHCD Shooter Manifesto: He Told Family He Was Willing to Kill ‘Most Everyone’ at Dinner to Get to Trump

The Reasons Why TDS Still Exists Despite Trump’s Historic Wins

Unearthed video reveals Cole Allen as quiet inventor years before alleged bid to assassinate Trump

At Least 4 Christian Farmers Gunned Down in Their Fields by Motorcycle Mounted Islamists in Nigeria

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.”